"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their smallest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily miss the wording "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained notice throughout the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding first scepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to him they wished to avoid the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the outset here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they aim to impart.
Adam said the tutor needed to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who have these reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, having a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will does not instantly achieve the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the expert believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
