"A family residing in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
However, it may be the most important aspect of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to find a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained interest in the media, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding first doubt, he found the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the atypical nature of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to impart.
He said the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Absolutely", said he. "They realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who share those reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
