"A family located in north London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled tutor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
Yet, it could be the most important part of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have since been submitted since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted notice throughout the news, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to instil.
The consultant said the tutor must be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been educated understanding and living both cultures. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, someone who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from infancy will will not necessarily achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something the expert thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
