"A family residing in North London seeks an remarkable and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most important part of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to find a tutor for a infant.
Many of submissions have since been submitted since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted notice throughout the media, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that despite first skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told him they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to instil.
Adam noted the tutor must be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who share those reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been raised knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, seems to me naive and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly produce the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
