"Parents based in north London seeks an extraordinary and experienced tutor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily skip the wording "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most significant element of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Numerous of responses have already been received since the anonymous family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the listing has attracted interest across the news, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that despite initial scepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they wish to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and embodying dual heritages. He went on to study at Cambridge University.
"The concept that an individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will does not automatically create the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
