"A household located in north London is looking for an remarkable and qualified tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily overlook the wording "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
However, it might be the crucial aspect of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have since been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding first scepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their request, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or passion in riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied he. "The family realize this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."
He noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and living dual heritages. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a representation of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will not automatically produce the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience numerous of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
