"A family based in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified tutor to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily skip the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it might be the most important aspect of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a infant.
Many of responses have now been submitted since the anonymous family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has received interest in the media, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that despite initial scepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is rather osmotic," stated the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they wish to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan 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 commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
But, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, someone who can somehow impart the characteristics of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily create the result they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, personal identity should not be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the reality that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
