"A family based in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily skip the phrase "beginning" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it could be the crucial part of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a teacher for a infant.
Many of submissions have since been received since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has received attention across the news, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, said that despite first scepticism, he considered the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told him they did not want this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to instil.
He noted the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who have these doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can act as a representation of Britishness, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will does not instantly create the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating