"Parents residing in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most significant aspect of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the anonymous family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has received notice in the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that despite early scepticism, he found the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the education at the start here is somewhat osmotic," said Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor must be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that 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 starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", said Adam. "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 early as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have similar doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly produce the result they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
