"A family residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and qualified instructor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally overlook the phrase "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the crucial aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have now been submitted since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest across the press, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that despite first scepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, 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 age "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they want to instil.
He explained the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
However, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share similar reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He noted that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying both cultures. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can in some way impart the attributes of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert believes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
