"A household based in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced educator to guide their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."
When reading this listing, you might easily miss the term "first-steps" as simple an expression.
But, it might be the most significant aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have now been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has attracted attention in the news, with numerous wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their hunt, explained that despite first doubt, he found the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the atypical nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.
Nevertheless, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the learning at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they aim to cultivate.
Adam said the tutor needed to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The parents realize this may not work, but they've just taken the view of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who have similar doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
He noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to study at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will not automatically achieve the outcome they want.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"In my view the reality that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
