"Parents located in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced tutor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily skip the wording "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have since been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received interest throughout the press, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already become established".
What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", he replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to impart.
Adam said the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", could the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who express similar doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the period of childhood, and had been raised understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that an individual can function as a representation of UK identity, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not automatically create the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
