"A household residing in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified educator to guide their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally skip the term "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the crucial element of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been sent in since the anonymous family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who express these concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the outcome they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the fact that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
