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"A family residing in north London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced tutor to support their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."

Upon seeing this listing, you might readily miss the phrase "initial stages" as just an expression.

But, it might be the most significant element of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to find a tutor for a 12-month-old.

Many of submissions have now been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".

In recent few weeks, the advert has gained notice across the news, with many asking why?

Innovative Idea

A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that despite first skepticism, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".

When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.

Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".

What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?

It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He explained the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family explained to him they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their new baby.

The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.

Subtle Influence

"A great deal of the development at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained Adam.

It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.

The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he added.

Expense Not a Factor

The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.

Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's minds, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and open doors.

"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.

But, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?

"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "They know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'we should try and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

There are some in the private teaching field who share these concerns.

Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."

Peter noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.

"The notion that a single person can act as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way transfer the attributes of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.

"Based on my background, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will not necessarily create the result they desire.

"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."

He continued: "The fact is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."

Acquiring Englishness

Naturally, Britishness is something the expert believes can be instructed – and sold.

"I believe the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating