"A family residing in North London seeks an extraordinary and experienced tutor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily miss the term "first-steps" as just an expression.
Yet, it may be the most important element of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention in the media, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that in spite of initial doubt, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the atypical nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed him they did not want the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they want to cultivate.
He noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will result in achievement and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", answered Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the private teaching field who express those doubts.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised knowing and embodying both cultures. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a one-year-old child, appears naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically English tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily create the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
