"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the wording "first-steps" as just an expression.
Yet, it could be the crucial element of this unique job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a infant.
Many of responses have since been submitted since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted interest across the news, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first scepticism, he considered the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unconventional nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified 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 stage "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they want to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who have these concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing dual heritages. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can possibly impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will not necessarily create the goal they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
