"Parents based in north London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled tutor to guide their most junior child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been submitted since the anonymous family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the news, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that despite early skepticism, he considered the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, 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 age "cultural influence had already set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they want to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds 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 don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of courses 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 perspective, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "English culture", would the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have these concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily produce the outcome they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
