"A household based in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.
However, it might be the most important element of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been received since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention throughout the news, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of initial doubt, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual character of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", he responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they want to cultivate.
He said the tutor had to be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
However, despite all this tutelage in "Britishness", would the child absorb so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family understand this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who share these concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies individual instructors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can somehow transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the fact that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
