"A household residing in North London wants to find an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as simple an expression.
However, it may be the crucial aspect of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have now been received since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted attention in the news, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, said that in spite of initial doubt, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unconventional nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told Adam they did not want history to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to instil.
Adam said the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", said he. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who express those reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been educated understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, appears naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will does not automatically create the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
