"Parents based in north London wants to find an remarkable and experienced educator to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might naturally skip the phrase "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the crucial element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been received since the anonymous family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained notice across the news, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that despite early doubt, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to impart.
He said the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who have those concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
