"A family located in North London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily miss the wording "first-steps" as just an expression.
However, it could be the most significant aspect of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been received since the anonymous family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received interest throughout the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that in spite of first skepticism, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to impart.
He noted the tutor must be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share these reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, someone who can somehow transfer the attributes of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
