"Parents based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled instructor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained interest across the media, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite initial skepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the unconventional nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they did not want history to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to impart.
He said the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", might the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied he. "They realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will not automatically create the goal they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
