"A family based in north London seeks an remarkable and experienced educator to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a infant.
Many of applications have now been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice in the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that in spite of initial doubt, he found the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to impart.
The consultant said the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", might the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "The family understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been raised knowing and living both cultures. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
