"A family located in north London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced educator to assist their most junior child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily skip the phrase "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
But, it could be the most significant element of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have already been sent in since the anonymous family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained attention in the news, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding early skepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified 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 bias had already become established".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types 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 carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", might the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The parents know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express these reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He explained that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow transplant the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically British tutor from babyhood will not necessarily achieve the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
