"A household located in North London is looking for an exceptional and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "beginning" as mere an expression.
Yet, it might be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been submitted since the unidentified family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted notice across the media, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first doubt, he found the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who share those reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a typically British tutor from infancy will does not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to live many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating