"A family located in North London is looking for an exceptional and skilled tutor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily miss the wording "initial stages" as simple an expression.
Yet, it could be the most significant part of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been received since the anonymous family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the news, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that in spite of initial skepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who have those doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and living both cultures. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a infant child, seems to me naive and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will not instantly create the result they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
