"A household located 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 turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily skip the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
Yet, it could be the crucial element of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been submitted since the unnamed family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received interest throughout the press, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that in spite of early skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to him they did not want this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to success 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 tutelage in "Britishness", could the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?
"Yes", replied he. "They realize this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who express these reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been educated knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can in some way transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily achieve the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the situation that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
