"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and qualified tutor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily overlook the term "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have since been sent in since the unidentified family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted attention in the media, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then become established".
But what did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told him they wished to avoid history to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to instil.
Adam said the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, despite all this guidance in "English culture", could the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", answered he. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who have these concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been educated knowing and living both cultures. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can act as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a typically English tutor from infancy will will not necessarily create the goal they want.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert believes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
