"A household residing in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and qualified educator to support their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily skip the phrase "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the crucial element of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Numerous of submissions have now been submitted since the unidentified family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has received interest in the press, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding early scepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had by then become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to impart.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons 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, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied he. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who share these reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can act as a representation of UK identity, someone who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will does not automatically achieve the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
