"A family located in north London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to support their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been sent in since the anonymous family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest throughout the media, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, explained that despite first scepticism, he considered the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the unconventional character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
Adam explained the tutor must be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", replied he. "They understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who share those reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can possibly transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily create the result they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
