"A family based in north London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced tutor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally skip the term "initial stages" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the most significant element of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have already been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted notice in the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that in spite of early scepticism, he found the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical character of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said he. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced 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 explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who share these reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will will not instantly achieve the outcome they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
