"Parents residing in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and experienced educator to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily skip the wording "first-steps" as just figurative language.
However, it might be the most significant part of this unique job advert, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have now been received since the unnamed family published their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained interest across the media, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that despite first scepticism, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they want to impart.
Adam noted the tutor must be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express similar concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter noted that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly British tutor from infancy will will not instantly achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, English culture is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
