"Parents residing in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally skip the wording "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most significant element of this unique position posting, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have already been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has received notice in the news, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that in spite of first doubt, he found the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the atypical character of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then become established".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they did not want this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to impart.
He explained the tutor must be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in riding, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who have similar concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had relocated from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can possibly impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
