"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified educator to support their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the crucial part of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to find a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice in the media, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding early skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, 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 familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
However, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share these reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will does not automatically achieve the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
