"Parents located in north London seeks an extraordinary and skilled instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily overlook the wording "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been received since the unidentified family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained notice across the press, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early skepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they did not want history to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is somewhat osmotic," explained Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they wish to instil.
He said the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The family know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share these concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing both cultures. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can act as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly achieve the goal they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live many of the situations they hope for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
