"Parents based in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and qualified instructor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the wording "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it might be the crucial element of this unique position posting, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have now been submitted since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted attention across the media, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that in spite of first scepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told him they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the outset here is kind of osmotic," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they want to impart.
Adam said the tutor must be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", could the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The family know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who share those reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will will not instantly produce the goal they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
