"A household based in North London wants to find an remarkable and qualified tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as mere an expression.
However, it could be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been sent in since the unidentified family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained notice in the press, with many questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that despite first scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the private teaching field who share similar doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can somehow transfer the qualities of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will not automatically produce the result they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
