"A household residing in North London wants to find an exceptional and skilled educator to support their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally overlook the wording "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the crucial element of this unique job advert, as it aims to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted attention in the news, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that in spite of first doubt, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the atypical nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Money No Object
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
But, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have those concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can function as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way transplant the attributes of a British gentleman onto a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will not instantly achieve the goal they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
