"A family located in North London seeks an extraordinary and experienced tutor to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
However, it might be the crucial part of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have since been received since the unnamed family published their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted interest across the press, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then become established".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the development at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will result in success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "The parents know this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The concept that an individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not instantly produce the result they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.
"I think the reality that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
