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"A household residing in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and skilled tutor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."

Looking at this listing, you might readily skip the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.

But, it may be the most important aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.

Numerous of responses have now been received since the unnamed family published their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".

In recent few weeks, the advert has received attention in the media, with numerous questioning why?

Innovative Idea

A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding initial doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".

When he consulted the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.

Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had by then taken hold".

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

It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".

He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.

The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.

Subtle Influence

"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.

It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they wish to instil.

Adam said the tutor must be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The instructor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware 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 horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.

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

In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.

"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.

However, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?

"Absolutely", said the CEO. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.

Overly Optimistic

Several in the education sector who share those concerns.

Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."

He noted that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the period of childhood, and had been raised understanding and practicing dual heritages. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

"The concept that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the attributes of a British gentleman to a infant child, seems to me optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.

"Based on my background, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the outcome they desire.

"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the situations they hope for their son."

He continued: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be forced from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Certainly, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.

"I think the fact that the world regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating