"A household residing in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily overlook the wording "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the crucial aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have already been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the media, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of early skepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who have similar doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
