"A household residing in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and experienced tutor to assist their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
However, it might be the most important aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained interest in the media, with many asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he said they understood the unconventional nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told him they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," stated Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to instil.
Adam said the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in horse riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share these doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that a single person can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.
"From my perspective, engaging a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will not instantly create the goal they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the situations they desire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
