"A family located in North London wants to find an remarkable and skilled tutor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been received since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received attention across the news, with several wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite first doubt, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then become established".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
He explained the tutor had to 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 educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who have similar doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of Britishness, someone who can somehow transfer the attributes of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically British tutor from babyhood will not instantly produce the outcome they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the expert believes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the situation that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
