"Parents based in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and experienced educator to assist their most junior child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a tutor for a infant.
Many of responses have since been received since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the news, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that despite initial doubt, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want history to recur with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the UK customs they aim to impart.
He explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
But, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
Several in the private teaching field who share similar doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and living both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can possibly impart the qualities of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
