"A household based in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it seeks to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted interest across the media, with numerous questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding first doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the atypical character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed him they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.
The intention: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the development at the beginning here is rather osmotic," stated Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they want to impart.
He said the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The family know this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the private teaching field who have these concerns.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that one individual can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the attributes of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically English tutor from early childhood will not instantly achieve the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live several of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
