"A family residing in north London wants to find an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily overlook the term "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most important element of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have already been received since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has received interest in the media, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the start here is rather osmotic," said Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
He explained the tutor needed to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "They realize this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who have those concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been raised understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will does not automatically achieve the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the fact that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
