"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily miss the wording "first-steps" as mere an expression.
But, it could be the most important aspect of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been sent in since the unidentified family published their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest across the press, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that despite early doubt, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they understood the unusual nature of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then taken hold".
What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family informed Adam they did not want the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," said Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to impart.
Adam explained the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
Yet, despite all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", replied the CEO. "They know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who share these concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He explained that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that one individual can act as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not automatically create the result they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
