"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and skilled educator to support their most junior child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
However, it could be the most important element of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have now been submitted since the anonymous family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted notice throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to instil.
He explained the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The family understand this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who share these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, commented 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 relocated from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will will not automatically achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
