"A family located in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified tutor to support their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily miss the wording "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it could be the crucial part of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been received since the anonymous family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice in the media, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, said that in spite of first scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unconventional nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they did not want this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," explained the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in success and create opportunities.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who have these doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been educated experiencing and living both cultures. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly create the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
