"A family based in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the most important element of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Numerous of responses have already been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained notice in the news, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding early scepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to recur with their infant.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor must be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have similar reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been educated knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can act as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the attributes of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will does not instantly produce the outcome they want.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something Adam hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
