"A family located in north London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified instructor to assist their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might easily miss the wording "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the unidentified family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention throughout the media, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then set in".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the start here is kind of osmotic," said the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to instil.
Adam said the tutor must be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said the CEO. "They know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who express similar concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, having a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will not automatically create the goal they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.
"I think the reality that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
