"A family residing in north London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily overlook the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
Yet, it may be the crucial part of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice in the media, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that despite first scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional aspect of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," said the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to instil.
He noted the tutor must be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up 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 view, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in success and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who have these doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transplant the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically British tutor from babyhood will not instantly create the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
