"A household located in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified tutor to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally overlook the phrase "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most significant part of this unique position posting, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been received since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received interest across the news, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to instil.
The consultant said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", said the CEO. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who share similar doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can function as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can somehow transplant the qualities of a British gentleman onto a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will not automatically produce the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live many of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something Adam believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
