"A household residing in North London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily miss the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual position posting, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have since been received since the unidentified family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted attention across the media, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to him they wished to avoid history to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," explained Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to instil.
Adam noted the tutor must be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", said Adam. "The family know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who share those concerns.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He noted that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the period of seven, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can in some way transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
