"Parents residing in north London seeks an exceptional and qualified educator to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.
But, it might be the most important element of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have already been sent in since the unnamed family published their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained interest throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their infant.
The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the start here is kind of osmotic," said Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
The consultant noted the tutor had to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", said the CEO. "They know this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who share those doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a typically UK tutor from babyhood will will not automatically achieve the goal they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I think the situation that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
