"A family located in North London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to support their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the wording "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most significant part of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have since been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained notice throughout the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, said that despite first skepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to him they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
He said the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in riding, skiing, creative fields and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The family know this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of seven, and had been brought up understanding and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can in some way transplant the attributes of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a typically British tutor from early childhood will not automatically achieve the result they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live many of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
