"Parents residing in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily skip the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial aspect of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have now been submitted since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the news, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding first skepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they want to instil.
He explained the tutor must be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He explained that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and embodying dual heritages. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily produce the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
