"A household based in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily miss the term "first-steps" as mere an expression.
Yet, it could be the most significant part of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received notice throughout the news, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first scepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told him they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to impart.
Adam explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback 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 bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who express these reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can act as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can possibly transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a typically English tutor from infancy will not necessarily achieve the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
