"Parents based in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally overlook the term "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most important element of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of applications have now been submitted since the anonymous family posted 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 gained attention across the press, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding early scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", 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 stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent history to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat osmotic," said Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to instil.
He explained the tutor had to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons 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 perspective, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied he. "The family understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who share similar concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can act as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can possibly impart the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the goal they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I think the situation that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
