"A household residing in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced educator to support their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily skip the term "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have already been received since the unnamed family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted attention across the news, with numerous questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that in spite of early scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," explained Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can function as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can in some way transfer the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me naive and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the outcome they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience many of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
