"A household residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and qualified instructor to support their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the wording "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
But, it may be the crucial part of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have now been received since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted attention throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is rather osmotic," said the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor must be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who have similar doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will does not automatically produce the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
