"A household residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most significant element of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have since been sent in since the anonymous family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received attention across the media, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, said that in spite of initial skepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to him they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor had to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who have these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will not instantly produce the outcome they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
