"A family residing in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as simple an expression.
Yet, it may be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it seeks to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have since been received since the unnamed family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that despite initial skepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unconventional character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay 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 become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told him they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
Adam noted the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the international family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He explained that he had moved from China to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can function as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the goal they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the reality that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
