"Parents residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally skip the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
However, it may be the most important element of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have since been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted notice throughout the news, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that despite initial skepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he said they understood the unconventional character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", answered he. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who share these concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically English tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
