"Parents based in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and skilled instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it could be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have now been submitted since the anonymous family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained interest in the media, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, explained that despite early scepticism, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to recur with their infant.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the outset here is kind of osmotic," explained Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they want to instil.
He explained the tutor had to be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Money No Object
The family told him the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or passion in riding, skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", could the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", said Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who express those doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will does not automatically produce the result they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.
"I believe the reality that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
