"A household based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as simple an expression.
Yet, it may be the crucial element of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of applications have since been submitted since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted attention throughout the news, with several asking why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that despite initial doubt, he found the concept "visionary", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family told him they did not want history to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
He said the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Impractical
Several in the tutoring industry who express these doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, commented that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had moved from China to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been educated experiencing and embodying both cultures. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The concept that an individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a infant child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a typically English tutor from babyhood will not necessarily achieve the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, English culture is something the expert believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
