"A household located in north London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced educator to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the wording "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have now been sent in since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has received attention in the news, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, said that despite first scepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical character of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they aim to instil.
He explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", said he. "They know this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express similar doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been raised experiencing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, a person who can possibly transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially British tutor from babyhood will not necessarily produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, English culture is something Adam believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
