"Parents located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and skilled tutor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily skip the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it may be the most significant part of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have now been submitted since the anonymous family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained notice in the news, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told Adam they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "English culture", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", replied Adam. "They know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who express these reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert explained that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can act as a representation of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not instantly create the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something Adam thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
