"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it may be the crucial element of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have now been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has received interest across the media, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
He explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
But, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the education sector who share similar doubts.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that one individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman to a infant child, appears naive and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily create the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
