"A family residing in north London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a infant.
Many of applications have already been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the media, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then become established".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told him they did not want history to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they wish to impart.
Adam noted the tutor had to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will result in success and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", answered he. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express these reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and embodying dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can function as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can possibly transplant the qualities of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will not necessarily achieve the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something Adam believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the situation that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
