"A family located in the northern part of London seeks an exceptional and skilled tutor to assist their smallest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.
But, it might be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have since been submitted since the unnamed family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the post has received attention across the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
The CEO, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the atypical character of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To hire a English tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to impart.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, the arts and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he notes.
However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar reservations.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can function as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially English tutor from infancy will will not instantly achieve the goal they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
