"Parents based in north London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily skip the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been received since the unnamed family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice across the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that in spite of first doubt, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of osmotic," explained the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
He explained the tutor must be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
However, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", said the CEO. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who have those doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and living dual heritages. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a English gentleman to a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a typically English tutor from infancy will not necessarily produce the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the expert hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
