"A family located in north London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled instructor to guide their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily skip the phrase "initial stages" as just an expression.
Yet, it might be the most significant part of this unique job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have now been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received notice in the media, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that despite initial skepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the start here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who share those doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been raised understanding and living two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a representation of Britishness, a person who can possibly transfer the qualities of a English gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the result they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
