"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled instructor to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally miss the phrase "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have already been submitted since the anonymous family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received notice across the media, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that in spite of initial scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", said he. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express these doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will does not instantly create the result they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
