"Parents residing in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the wording "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most important aspect of this unusual job advert, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have since been submitted since the anonymous family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained attention in the press, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the unconventional character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent history to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to cultivate.
He said the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied he. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share similar doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He explained that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and living both cultures. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly produce the result they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
