"A family residing in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and skilled tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily skip the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the most significant part of this unique position posting, as it attempts to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been sent in since the unidentified family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained notice in the press, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite initial scepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to instil.
He said the tutor must be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", said he. "They understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically British tutor from infancy will will not automatically achieve the outcome they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
