"Parents residing in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and qualified educator to support their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
However, it may be the crucial part of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have already been received since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the news, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he considered the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unusual nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to him they wished to avoid history to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to impart.
He noted the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", would the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who express similar reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can possibly transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will does not instantly achieve the result they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
