"Parents residing in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and qualified instructor to support their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere an expression.
Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have now been received since the unnamed family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the media, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that despite early skepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the atypical character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to him they wished to avoid history to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
Adam noted the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who express these doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can somehow impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
