"A household residing in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and qualified tutor to guide their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might naturally overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it could be the most significant aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted attention throughout the media, with several questioning why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that notwithstanding first scepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the atypical nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to instil.
Adam noted the tutor had to be somebody 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 right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Money No Object
The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that 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 learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", replied he. "They know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who share these reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, someone who can possibly transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the situation that the global community holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
