"Parents residing in North London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified educator to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
However, it may be the most important aspect of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to find a teacher for a infant.
Many of responses have since been submitted since the unidentified family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest in the press, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that despite early skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the atypical character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who share those doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been educated knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, someone who can somehow transplant the attributes of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the result they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something Adam hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
