"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their youngest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most significant element of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted attention throughout the press, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that despite initial doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual character of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to cultivate.
Adam noted the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'we should try and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who have those reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can possibly transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will does not automatically produce the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO believes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
