"A family residing in north London seeks an exceptional and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally miss the phrase "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to find a tutor for a infant.
Many of responses have since been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice in the press, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding early scepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the learning at the start here is somewhat osmotic," said the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they want to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", said he. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have similar concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He noted that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, a person who can somehow transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically British tutor from infancy will does not automatically achieve the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
