"A family residing in north London seeks an extraordinary and skilled tutor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally skip the wording "first-steps" as just figurative language.
But, it could be the most significant aspect of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of responses have since been received since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted attention throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, said that notwithstanding first scepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical nature of their request, and how young their son is.
However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed him they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"A great deal of the development at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," said Adam.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor must be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Money No Object
The family informed him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, helping 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 certainly a class statement," he adds.
However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", replied he. "The parents know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who have those reservations.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been raised understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that a single person can function as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can somehow transfer the attributes of a British gentleman upon a infant child, appears naive and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, engaging a typically UK tutor from babyhood will will not instantly achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something Adam thinks can be educated – and sold.
"I think the fact that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
