"A family based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified tutor to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily miss the wording "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the crucial part of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the listing has attracted interest across the press, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding early doubt, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified 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 age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they did not want the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the start here is somewhat osmotic," stated Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to cultivate.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has 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 explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", said he. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express similar concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can act as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can somehow transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically UK tutor from early childhood will does not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the situation that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
