"A family based in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily overlook the wording "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it might be the crucial part of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of submissions have since been received since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received notice in the press, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that despite initial scepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they wish to impart.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", answered he. "The family understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who have those doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been educated knowing and living both cultures. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can act as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a infant child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically British tutor from infancy will does not necessarily produce the goal they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
