"A household residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to assist their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the term "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received attention in the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to instil.
He noted the tutor must be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding 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 "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", would the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express those reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He explained that he had moved from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the goal they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
