"Parents residing in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and qualified tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally skip the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the crucial element of this unique employment listing, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of responses have since been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received attention in the news, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he found the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the start here is rather osmotic," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Yes", said the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have those concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can somehow impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will not instantly produce the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the expert believes can be educated – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating