"Parents residing in north London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified educator to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily miss the term "first-steps" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the crucial element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been submitted since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained notice throughout the press, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, said that in spite of first doubt, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
Adam said the tutor had to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will result in success and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the international family he lives with anyway?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "They know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share similar doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living both cultures. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the attributes of a English gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly English tutor from infancy will not automatically create the outcome they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the situation that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
