"A household residing in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a teacher for a infant.
Many of submissions have since been received since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained interest across the news, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that despite initial doubt, he found the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.
Adam said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the education sector who share these doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can in some way transfer the attributes of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, engaging a distinctly British tutor from infancy will not necessarily produce the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the situation that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
