"A family based in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally skip the phrase "beginning" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it might be the crucial aspect of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have since been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the listing has attracted interest across the news, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of first doubt, he considered the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unusual aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to recur with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor had to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share those reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow transfer the attributes of a English gentleman to a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly British tutor from infancy will will not automatically produce the result they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, English culture is something Adam thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
