"A household based in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily miss the wording "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most significant part of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of applications have now been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention in the news, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they did not want history to repeat itself with their infant.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the British traits they wish to impart.
The consultant said the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have those reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been educated experiencing and embodying dual heritages. He continued to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can function as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from early childhood will not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the situation that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
