"A family located in north London is looking for an remarkable and qualified tutor to guide their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
However, it might be the most important aspect of this unusual position posting, as it aims to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have now been received since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice in the news, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unusual character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid history to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they wish to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields 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 enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have those concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can somehow transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from infancy will does not automatically achieve the goal they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
