"Parents based in north London seeks an remarkable and skilled tutor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily skip the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to find a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained notice in the press, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that despite early skepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unusual character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor needed to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "They know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who express similar concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of UK identity, someone who can somehow impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
