"Parents based in north London wants to find an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally overlook the term "initial stages" as just figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most important part of this unusual job advert, as it aims to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been submitted since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received interest across the press, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first scepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to instil.
Adam said the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", answered he. "The family know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and living dual heritages. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can possibly impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will not instantly create the goal they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
