"A family located in North London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily overlook the wording "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the most significant part of this unique position posting, as it attempts to find a mentor for a infant.
Many of applications have now been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained interest across the news, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, said that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told him they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to instil.
He said the tutor had to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told him the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the period of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can somehow transfer the attributes of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will will not automatically achieve the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
