"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and skilled tutor to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it may be the crucial part of this unique job advert, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the media, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding early scepticism, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", could the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The family realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who share those concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been raised knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will will not instantly produce the goal they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
