"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to support their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily miss the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have since been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention in the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of first doubt, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", could the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The family realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who express these concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can act as a representation of Britishness, someone who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a infant child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will will not automatically create the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I think the fact that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
