"A family based in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this unusual job advert, as it aims to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the advert has received notice throughout the news, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that in spite of early skepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they want to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", answered he. "The parents understand this may not work, 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 cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and living dual heritages. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can somehow impart the attributes of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will will not instantly produce the result they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience many of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
