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"Parents located in north London wants to find an exceptional and skilled instructor to support their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."

Looking at this listing, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as just figurative language.

But, it might be the crucial element of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.

Numerous of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "someone very special".

During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?

Innovative Idea

Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that despite initial doubt, he found the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".

When he consulted the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.

But, they explained 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 age "cultural influence had by then become established".

What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?

It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".

He explained the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their younger child.

The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from the very start.

Natural Absorption

"A lot of the education at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the expert.

It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.

Adam explained the tutor must be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.

Money No Object

The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.

Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and create opportunities.

"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.

Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child absorb alleged cultural leaning from the international family he lives with regardless?

"Certainly", answered Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he explained.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

A number of in the private teaching field who share those reservations.

Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."

He wrote that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and living both cultures. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.

"The notion that one individual can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can possibly transplant the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he stated.

"From my perspective, having a typically British tutor from early childhood will will not automatically achieve the outcome they hope for.

"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."

He added: "The truth is, personal identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Naturally, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be educated – and marketed.

"I think the situation that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating