"A family located in north London seeks an exceptional and skilled instructor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily miss the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
However, it might be the crucial part of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have since been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained interest across the news, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that in spite of early skepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," stated Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they wish to instil.
Adam explained the tutor must be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", said he. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who share these reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and living dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a representation of UK identity, a person who can possibly impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly English tutor from infancy will not instantly create the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
