"A family residing in North London seeks an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their youngest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily overlook the term "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it seeks to find a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been received since the anonymous family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained notice across the press, with many asking why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the unconventional character 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 age "cultural influence had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", Adam responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the British traits they want to impart.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?
"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express these reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert explained that he had relocated from the Far East to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been raised understanding and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of UK identity, an individual who can in some way impart the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to live several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
