"A household located in north London seeks an extraordinary and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally skip the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
Yet, it may be the crucial aspect of this unique job advert, as it attempts to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of applications have now been received since the anonymous family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted attention in the press, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding first doubt, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unusual character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then set in".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told Adam they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they wish to impart.
The consultant noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.
But, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the international family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", answered he. "The family know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have similar doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the time of seven, and had been raised knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can act as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can possibly transplant the qualities of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will does not instantly achieve the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
