"Parents located in North London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the wording "first-steps" as simple an expression.
However, it might be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have now been submitted since the unnamed family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice in the press, with several questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that despite initial skepticism, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the unusual character of their demand, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained Adam.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they want to impart.
The consultant said the tutor must be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", answered he. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who have similar concerns.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He explained that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a representation of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially English tutor from infancy will not automatically achieve the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the international society views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
