"Parents located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most important element of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received attention across the news, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite first doubt, he considered the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the atypical aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they aim to impart.
Adam said the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", answered Adam. "They know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share similar reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been educated understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the goal they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
