"Parents located in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified tutor to support their most junior child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally miss the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it could be the crucial aspect of this unique job advert, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have now been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has attracted notice across the news, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of first skepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, 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 already become established".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the start here is rather osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", answered he. "The family realize this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who have those concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from China to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will does not automatically create the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience several of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
