"Parents based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled tutor to guide their smallest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily skip the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most significant element of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have now been received since the unnamed family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the media, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that despite early scepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unusual character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who express those doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that one individual can act as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, appears naive and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will not automatically produce the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.
"I think the fact that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
