"A family based in North London wants to find an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily skip the term "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to find a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have now been submitted since the unidentified family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained attention throughout the media, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they understood the atypical nature of their request, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to him they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "English culture", could the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who express those reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and embodying both cultures. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way transfer the qualities of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will does not automatically achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
