"A household based in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and experienced educator to support their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily miss the term "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have already been received since the anonymous family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice across the press, with several questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that despite early skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want this pattern to recur with their younger child.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
He noted the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – 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 performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who have these concerns.
Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from China to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will does not instantly create the goal they hope for.
"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to experience several of the situations they hope for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam believes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
