"A household based in north London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced instructor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most significant element of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have already been received since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted notice across the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early doubt, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
He noted the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who express similar reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
The expert wrote that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The concept that a single person can function as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can in some way impart the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
