"A household based in North London seeks an extraordinary and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it could be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received interest throughout the media, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that in spite of first skepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to him they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
He explained the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", answered he. "The family know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way transplant the qualities of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily produce the result they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
