"A family residing in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "first-steps" as simple an expression.
However, it could be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have now been sent in since the unidentified family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received notice throughout the press, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding early skepticism, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unusual nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told Adam they did not want this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to instil.
He noted the tutor must be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed him the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who express those reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, someone who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a infant child, appears naive and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to live several of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
