"A family residing in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified tutor to support their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it could be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been submitted since the unidentified family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained notice across the news, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of early scepticism, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unusual aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want history to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they want to impart.
He explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "They realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express those concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of Britishness, a person who can in some way transfer the qualities of a English gentleman to a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will not necessarily create the goal they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
