"A family located in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might naturally overlook the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.
But, it could be the crucial element of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.
Many of applications have now been submitted since the unidentified family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained interest throughout the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he considered the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much 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 pick up the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
He noted the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
However, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who express those concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
