"A family residing in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
However, it might be the most significant aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been received since the anonymous family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received attention across the news, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of initial skepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid history to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to impart.
Adam explained the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who have these reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had relocated from China to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and living both cultures. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can possibly impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will does not instantly produce the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
