"Parents based in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the unnamed family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained interest in the press, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that in spite of initial doubt, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unusual nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they wished to avoid history to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the start here is rather osmotic," explained the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they want to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor must be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child pick up what is termed cultural influence 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, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who express these reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and living dual heritages. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can function as a representation of UK identity, someone who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily create the result they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
