"A family residing in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have now been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted attention across the press, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that despite first doubt, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the atypical character of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told Adam they did not want the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the education at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who share similar concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of seven, and had been brought up understanding and practicing dual heritages. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can act as a representation of Britishness, a person who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily produce the outcome they want.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
