"A family located in North London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified educator to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
However, it may be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have already been sent in since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice across the media, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early doubt, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they did not want this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who have these concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He explained that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can in some way transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly English tutor from infancy will not automatically produce the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
