"A family residing in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced tutor to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily skip the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
However, it may be the most significant part of this unique job advert, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice across the news, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that despite initial skepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unusual nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated 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 already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," said the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who express similar reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and embodying both cultures. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily achieve the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
