"A household based in North London wants to find an exceptional and qualified tutor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention in the news, with numerous questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, said that despite early skepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional aspect 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 waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to impart.
He explained the tutor must be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "The family understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who express similar reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He noted that he had moved from China to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised knowing and embodying both cultures. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily produce the goal they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity 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
