"Parents residing in north London seeks an remarkable and skilled instructor to assist their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere an expression.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a infant.
Many of submissions have since been sent in since the anonymous family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has received attention in the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding first scepticism, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they did not want history to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they want to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor had to be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who express similar reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can act as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily create the result they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
