"A household located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and skilled educator to support their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the wording "beginning" as just an expression.
Yet, it might be the most important element of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received notice in the press, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, said that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," said the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor must be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who have these concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of seven, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can act as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically UK tutor from babyhood will not instantly achieve the goal they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
