"Parents residing in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and skilled tutor to support their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have now been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the media, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he found the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told him they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," said the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they aim to cultivate.
He explained the tutor had to be someone who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "They understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who have similar reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can act as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
