"Parents residing in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified tutor to support their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have now been submitted since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice throughout the media, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, said that despite initial doubt, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the atypical nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they aim to impart.
Adam explained the tutor must be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "The family understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who share similar reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had moved from China to the UK at the time of seven, and had been raised experiencing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the result they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
