"A household based in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most significant element of this unusual job advert, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received attention throughout the news, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that in spite of early doubt, he found the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the atypical character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told him they did not want this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam said the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to shape 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 courses 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 "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", would the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He explained that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can function as a representation of Britishness, someone who can in some way transfer the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears naive and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically British tutor from early childhood will not automatically produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
