"A family located in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily overlook the term "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted attention in the press, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that in spite of early scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire 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, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the private teaching field who have similar concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, commented 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 Asia to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will does not automatically produce the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
