"A household located in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and experienced educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might easily overlook the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial element of this unique employment listing, as it aims to hire a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest across the media, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to instil.
He said the tutor had to be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The family realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
He explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can function as a representation of Britishness, a person who can somehow transplant the attributes of a British gentleman to a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the expert thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
