"Parents based in North London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily overlook the term "first-steps" as mere an expression.
Yet, it may be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have since been submitted since the unidentified family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained interest throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional nature of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone 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 set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the start here is kind of osmotic," explained Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
Adam 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 tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", replied Adam. "They know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who have similar reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He explained that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, someone who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly produce the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
