"Parents located in north London is looking for an exceptional and skilled instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily overlook the term "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
But, it could be the most important part of this unique job advert, as it attempts to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention across the press, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that despite initial skepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the UK customs they want to cultivate.
Adam explained the tutor must be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", could the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who share similar doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the result they want.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity cannot be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"In my view the situation that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
