"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily miss the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has received attention throughout the media, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding first scepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", replied he. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share those reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been raised knowing and living two backgrounds. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can somehow transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
