"A family residing in North London seeks an remarkable and experienced educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
But, it may be the most significant element of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have already been received since the unidentified family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the press, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual character of their demand, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed him they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to instil.
He said the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing 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 enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "They understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
The expert wrote that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and living both cultures. He went on to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can possibly impart the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to live many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"In my view the situation that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
