"A household located in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily miss the wording "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.
However, it might be the most important part of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have already been sent in since the unidentified family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained interest across the press, with several wondering why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that despite early skepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated 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 engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told him they did not want the same situation to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained Adam.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Money No Object
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.
But, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the private teaching field who share those doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living dual heritages. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can serve as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can somehow transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly achieve the outcome they want.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to live many of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
