"A household located in north London seeks an exceptional and qualified tutor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the crucial aspect of this unique job advert, as it aims to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have since been submitted since the unnamed family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the news, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that despite initial skepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
He noted the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope 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, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, alpine 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 lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", could the child adopt alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and living both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can in some way impart the attributes of a English gentleman to a infant child, appears naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly British tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something the expert thinks can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
