"A family based in north London wants to find an remarkable and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple an expression.
Yet, it may be the most important element of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have now been sent in since the anonymous family posted their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest in the news, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding early skepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told him they wished to avoid the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they want to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", answered he. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who express similar concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been educated knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can in some way transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily achieve the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
