"A family based in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the wording "initial stages" as just an expression.
But, it might be the crucial part of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been submitted since the anonymous family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received notice in the media, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the atypical nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The family understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express these reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, a person who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not instantly create the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to live many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
