"A family residing in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified educator to guide their youngest child on his early path to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily skip the phrase "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
But, it might be the most significant element of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a infant.
Hundreds of submissions have now been sent in since the anonymous family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has attracted attention throughout the media, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of initial doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".
What precisely does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent the same situation to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," said the CEO.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to impart.
The consultant said the tutor must be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered he. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who have similar reservations.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The concept that an individual can function as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can somehow transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he stated.
"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will not instantly create the result they desire.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be taught – and marketed.
"In my view the reality that the world views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
