"A family located in north London wants to find an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally miss the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.
But, it could be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have now been submitted since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained notice in the media, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that in spite of early scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional nature of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they explained 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 bias had already become established".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they did not want history to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they aim to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
However, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who express those concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will not instantly create the goal they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I think the situation that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
