"A family residing in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most important element of this unique employment listing, as it aims to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the post has received notice in the media, with many wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that despite first skepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to him they did not want this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the outset here is rather osmotic," explained the expert.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they aim to instil.
He said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.
But, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child adopt so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Certainly", said he. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Impractical
There are some in the tutoring industry who have these reservations.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised knowing and living dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a representation of Britishness, someone who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"From my perspective, engaging a typically English tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily create the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the situation that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
