"A family located in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and experienced educator to assist their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally miss the term "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the crucial part of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of applications have since been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted attention in the press, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that in spite of first skepticism, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unusual character of their demand, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they did not want the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they aim to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", would the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", said the CEO. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who have similar doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been educated knowing and embodying dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the situation that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
