"Parents based in North London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified educator to support their youngest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally overlook the wording "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most significant element of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have now been received since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained notice in the media, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of early scepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to impart.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told him the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.
However, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", might the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who have similar reservations.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the period of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that one individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can in some way transplant the attributes of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they want.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
