"Parents based in north London wants to find an exceptional and experienced instructor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has received attention across the press, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, said that despite initial scepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed him they did not want the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they wish to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who share those reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He explained that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He went on to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will not necessarily create the result they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert believes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
