"A household residing in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most significant part of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have now been submitted since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the news, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that despite initial scepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained 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 point "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to instil.
Adam said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who share similar concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been raised understanding and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will not automatically create the goal they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
