"Parents residing in North London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified tutor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as mere an expression.
However, it might be the most significant element of this unique employment listing, as it aims to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Many of submissions have now been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained notice across the news, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the unconventional character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told him they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," said the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
He noted the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this guidance in "English culture", would the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?
"Yes", said Adam. "They realize this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the age of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that an individual can act as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can somehow transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"Based on my background, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will does not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the world holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
