"Parents located in north London is looking for an exceptional and qualified tutor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally miss the wording "beginning" as just figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the press, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "English culture", would the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the education sector who express those doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the age of seven, and had been educated experiencing and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the goal they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I think the situation that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
