"A family based in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most important part of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained notice across the media, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that despite early skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the atypical character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who share similar reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and living both cultures. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The concept that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly impart the attributes of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a typically English tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating