"A family residing in north London wants to find an exceptional and skilled instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.
Numerous of applications have since been received since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted attention throughout the media, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding initial doubt, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", he answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol 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 minds, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and open doors.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", said he. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the private teaching field who have these reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and living two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly transplant the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly achieve the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
