"A family based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled educator to guide their smallest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most important part of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the media, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early skepticism, he considered the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unconventional aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is kind of acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about achievement and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.
But, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", might the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who have those doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, a person who can possibly impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will will not automatically achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
