"Parents located in north London seeks an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their youngest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most significant element of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Many of applications have since been sent in since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted notice across the news, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the atypical character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the education sector who express these doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can possibly impart the qualities of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a typically UK tutor from infancy will not automatically achieve the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something the expert believes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"In my view the situation that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
