"Parents residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the term "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the crucial element of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained attention in the press, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of initial skepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional character of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the development at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they wish to instil.
He explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", replied he. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who share those concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
The expert noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
