"A family residing in north London wants to find an remarkable and experienced educator to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might easily overlook the term "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it might be the most significant element of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have since been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest throughout the news, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, said that despite first doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is rather osmotic," said Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They know this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who share similar concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a infant child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from babyhood will will not instantly produce the outcome they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
