"A household residing in North London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified educator to assist their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
However, it could be the crucial element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have since been received since the anonymous family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained interest across the press, with several wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that despite first scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he said they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated 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 point "cultural influence had already become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.
The plan: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.
It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to cultivate.
He explained the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Additionally though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who have these doubts.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies individual instructors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that a single person can function as a embodiment of UK identity, a person who can somehow transplant the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he wrote.
"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will not automatically produce the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be instructed – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
