"A family located in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced educator to support their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily overlook the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have since been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has received attention throughout the news, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that despite first scepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they wish to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express these reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been raised understanding and embodying dual heritages. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transfer the qualities of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a typically British tutor from infancy will does not automatically produce the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something Adam hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
