"Parents located in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their youngest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily overlook the term "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the crucial element of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been submitted since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained notice throughout the news, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of first scepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unconventional nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the outset here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to impart.
The consultant said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who share those concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert explained that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been educated knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will not instantly create the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
