"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified tutor to support their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have since been submitted since the unidentified family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received attention across the media, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that in spite of first doubt, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they aim to cultivate.
He said the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who have these reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter explained that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can act as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can somehow impart the attributes of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not instantly produce the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
