"A family located in North London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to assist their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily overlook the term "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
But, it may be the most important part of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of submissions have already been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the media, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed him they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who express those reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and living both cultures. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will not automatically achieve the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
