"A family located in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.
But, it could be the most significant aspect of this unusual position posting, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained interest across the media, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding early doubt, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual character of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
Adam explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the education sector who have similar doubts.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from Asia to the UK at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can act as a living vessel of Britishness, an individual who can possibly impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically British tutor from babyhood will does not automatically produce the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
