"Parents residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.
Many of responses have now been submitted since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest throughout the news, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that despite initial scepticism, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified 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 stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to instil.
Adam explained the tutor had to be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope 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, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol 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 minds, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had moved from China to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and living both cultures. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can act as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will not necessarily produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
