"A family residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their most junior child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
Yet, it could be the most significant aspect of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been received since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted interest throughout the news, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that despite early skepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to him they did not want history to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope 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, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who have similar reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can somehow impart the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a typically English tutor from infancy will not necessarily achieve the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert believes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
