"A household located in north London seeks an exceptional and qualified tutor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might easily miss the wording "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it may be the crucial element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have since been sent in since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the listing has received notice throughout the media, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding first skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unusual nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to him they did not want history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to him the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?
"Yes", replied he. "They know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who share similar reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
The expert wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that one individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"In my experience, employing a typically English tutor from babyhood will does not automatically produce the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to live several of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
