"Parents residing in north London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified tutor to assist their smallest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it might be the crucial element of this unusual position posting, as it aims to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been received since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice in the press, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that despite first scepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they want to impart.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses 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, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who share those reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can act as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically British tutor from early childhood will not instantly create the outcome they want.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
