"A household residing in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and skilled instructor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been received since the anonymous family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has received notice across the media, with numerous asking why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already taken hold".
But what does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to cultivate.
He explained the tutor had to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who express those concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
Peter explained that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and living both cultures. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can in some way transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, having a typically British tutor from infancy will does not instantly create the result they desire.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert hopes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
