"Parents residing in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced instructor to assist their most junior child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as just figurative language.
But, it might be the most significant part of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have since been sent in since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted notice throughout the press, with many wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that in spite of early scepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the unusual nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had picked up "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the UK customs they want to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
But, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The parents know this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the education sector who have similar concerns.
An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that one individual can function as a living vessel of UK identity, someone who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, personal identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.
"In my view the fact that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
