"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled tutor to support their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily skip the term "first-steps" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most significant part of this unique position posting, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have since been sent in 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 listing has gained attention across the press, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding first doubt, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they wish to impart.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire 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, simply by nature," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", said Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who have these reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He noted that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and practicing both cultures. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a representation of UK identity, someone who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will not automatically achieve the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
