"Parents based in north London wants to find an exceptional and experienced educator to assist their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might easily skip the phrase "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
But, it might be the crucial aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have now been sent in since the unnamed family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the media, with numerous asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that despite early doubt, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the atypical character of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed him they did not want this pattern to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to impart.
Adam said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a wide range of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
However, in spite of all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child adopt alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Certainly", replied Adam. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who have these reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
He wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The concept that an individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can somehow transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not instantly create the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He added: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the fact that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
