"A household residing in north London wants to find an remarkable and qualified educator to assist their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily overlook the term "beginning" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the most important element of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have since been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained attention in the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of first doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told him they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is rather osmotic," said Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
He explained the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must 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 Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "They realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have those concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and living both cultures. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can function as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can somehow impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will not instantly create the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, English culture is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
