"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily miss the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most important part of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have now been received since the anonymous family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has received notice throughout the media, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of early doubt, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they recognized the unconventional nature of their request, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the firstborn had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.
The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to impart.
He noted the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
But, despite all this instruction in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the international family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who express those concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that an individual can act as a representation of UK identity, a person who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly create the outcome they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the international society views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
