"Parents located in North London is looking for an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily skip the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.
Many of applications have since been received since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted interest across the press, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already become established".
What precisely did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid history to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they aim to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who express similar reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can function as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can somehow transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, appears naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
