"A household located in North London seeks an exceptional and skilled educator to guide their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily overlook the term "first-steps" as just an expression.
However, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have since been received since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has attracted notice in the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs 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 informed Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "English culture", might the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", answered he. "The family realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily create the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
