"A family residing in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have now been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained interest throughout the news, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that despite initial skepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to impart.
Adam said the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the international family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", answered he. "They know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who have similar doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living dual heritages. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can in some way transfer the qualities of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears naive and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically British tutor from infancy will not instantly produce the goal they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to live several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
