"A family based in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might readily overlook the term "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it aims to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have since been submitted since the anonymous family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received attention throughout the news, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that despite initial skepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, 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 stage "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told him they wished to avoid history to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they want to instil.
He said the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
But, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", replied he. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express those doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up understanding and embodying both cultures. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the attributes of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily create the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
