"Parents residing in North London seeks an exceptional and skilled tutor to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "first-steps" as mere an expression.
Yet, it might be the crucial part of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have now been submitted since the unidentified family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted notice in the media, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that despite first skepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor must be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who express these concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He noted that he had moved from China to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the result they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live many of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
