"A family located in north London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the term "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted attention in the news, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that despite initial skepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
More than that though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who share those concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and embodying both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can in some way impart the qualities of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically British tutor from infancy will not automatically achieve the result they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live several of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
