"Parents based in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced educator to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it may be the most important part of this unusual employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been submitted since the anonymous family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received attention throughout the news, with many questioning why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that in spite of initial scepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they recognized the unusual nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already set in".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will pick up the British traits they wish to cultivate.
The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.
However, despite all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he resides with anyway?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The parents know this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who share these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the journey of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."
The expert explained that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and living two backgrounds. He continued to learn at Cambridge University.
"The notion that one individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow impart the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly English tutor from infancy will does not instantly achieve the result they hope for.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they hope for their son."
He continued: "The reality is, self-identity should not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Buying Britishness
Naturally, English culture is something the expert believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
