"Parents residing in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and qualified educator to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally miss the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have since been received since the unidentified family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest in the news, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding first scepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is rather osmotic," said the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they want to impart.
Adam noted the tutor had to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, despite all this instruction in "English culture", might the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who express these doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had relocated from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a representation of English culture, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will not instantly create the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to live many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
