"A family located in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
Yet, it may be the most important element of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have since been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has received attention across the media, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, said that despite initial doubt, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then become established".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed him they did not want the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Osmotic Learning
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", answered the CEO. "They know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who express these reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and living both cultures. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can act as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can in some way transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will will not necessarily create the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the situation that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
