"A household residing in North London seeks an extraordinary and qualified tutor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally skip the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it might be the most important element of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have since been received since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has received notice throughout the news, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they aim to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor must be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express similar doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and living dual heritages. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will not instantly achieve the result they want.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, Britishness is something the CEO believes can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the international society views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
