"A family based in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily overlook the term "first-steps" as mere an expression.
Yet, it could be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained interest throughout the press, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding early scepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical character of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they aim to instil.
Adam said the tutor had to be someone who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "They know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who express these reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been brought up understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can somehow transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically UK tutor from infancy will not automatically create the result they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
