"A household residing in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to support their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it aims to find a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have since been received since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained interest in the media, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that despite early skepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed him they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool 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 create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express those concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He explained that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a typically British tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily achieve the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
