"Parents located in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their smallest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily skip the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
However, it might be the most significant aspect of this unique position posting, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have now been sent in since the anonymous family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted interest in the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the start here is rather osmotic," said the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they wish to cultivate.
He noted the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who express these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
The expert explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been educated understanding and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically UK tutor from infancy will not necessarily produce the outcome they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the situation that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
