"A household located in north London seeks an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily skip the phrase "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained notice across the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that despite early skepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is rather osmotic," stated Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they aim to impart.
The consultant said the tutor must be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or passion in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express these concerns.
An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and living both cultures. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can somehow impart the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily achieve the goal they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be educated – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
