"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled tutor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily skip the wording "beginning" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most important part of this unusual position posting, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has received attention in the media, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the unconventional nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told him they did not want history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," said the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "They know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who share similar reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and living both cultures. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, an individual who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly British tutor from infancy will will not instantly produce the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something the expert believes can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating