"A family located in North London seeks an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily miss the wording "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have now been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained notice throughout the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is rather osmotic," explained the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they wish to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
But, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who share those doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
The expert noted that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been raised experiencing and living dual heritages. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can act as a representation of UK identity, a person who can in some way transfer the attributes of a British gentleman upon a infant child, appears optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will not necessarily create the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
