"A family based in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
However, it might be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Many of responses have already been sent in since the anonymous family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained attention in the media, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of initial skepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the outset here is kind of osmotic," explained the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they aim to instil.
He noted the tutor must be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who express those concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He noted that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and living dual heritages. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly achieve the outcome they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating