"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to guide their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
Yet, it may be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have now been sent in since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice across the news, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that despite initial scepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told Adam they wished to avoid history to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the start here is kind of osmotic," stated the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", replied he. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share these doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and living two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can act as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can somehow transplant the attributes of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from babyhood will not automatically achieve the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
