"A household residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to support their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily miss the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
But, it may be the most significant part of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted notice throughout the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how young 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 firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had by then become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who have these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can act as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily create the goal they want.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience several of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
