"Parents residing in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might readily overlook the wording "first-steps" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to find a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of applications have already been received since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted attention in the media, with many asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he considered the plan "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He explained the firstborn had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they did not want history to recur with their new baby.
The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they want to impart.
Adam explained the tutor must be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
However, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by regardless?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share similar reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he wrote.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will not instantly achieve the outcome they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
