"Parents based in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced tutor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the most significant part of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been received since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained notice in the press, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they did not want history to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to impart.
The consultant said the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "They understand this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who express these concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from infancy will does not instantly produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience several of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
