"Parents located in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their smallest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally miss the term "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it may be the crucial element of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been received since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has attracted interest throughout the media, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, said that despite initial skepticism, he found the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they understood the unconventional character of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they did not want the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," said Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the British traits they want to cultivate.
Adam explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who express these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert explained that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that one individual can act as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can in some way transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will will not instantly produce the goal they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
