"Parents based in North London wants to find an exceptional and experienced instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the wording "first-steps" as just an expression.
Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have now been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice across the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding first scepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to recur with their infant.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to impart.
He explained the tutor must be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express those reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically British tutor from babyhood will does not instantly achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
