"A family based in north London is looking for an remarkable and qualified educator to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the term "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the crucial part of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been submitted since the unidentified family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received attention throughout the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then become established".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the start here is somewhat osmotic," said the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they want to instil.
Adam said the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who express similar concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been raised experiencing and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can possibly transplant the attributes of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to live many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert believes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
