"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to support their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most significant element of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to find a tutor for a infant.
Many of responses have now been received since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained attention in the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that despite early doubt, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the atypical nature of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is rather osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they aim to instil.
He explained the tutor must be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who share those concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the age of seven, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, seems to me naive and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
