"A family based in North London is looking for an remarkable and qualified instructor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
But, it may be the most important part of this unusual position posting, as it aims to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have now been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained notice throughout the news, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
But, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who express similar doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of seven, and had been educated experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can act as a living vessel of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will not automatically produce the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
