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"Parents based in north London seeks an remarkable and skilled tutor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."

When reading this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as simple figurative language.

But, it might be the most significant element of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of submissions have now been sent in since the unnamed family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".

In recent few weeks, the post has gained interest in the media, with several questioning why?

Progressive Approach

The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of initial skepticism, he found the plan "visionary", and "advanced".

When he met the family, he said they recognized the unconventional character of their request, and how young their son is.

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

What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?

It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".

He said the older sibling had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told him they hoped to prevent history to recur with their infant.

The plan: To hire a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby right from the beginning.

Osmotic Learning

"Much of the development at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained Adam.

It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to instil.

Adam explained the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he added.

Cost Not Relevant

The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.

More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.

"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.

Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", would the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?

"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced 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 education sector who share those doubts.

Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."

He noted that he had moved from Asia to the UK at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.

"The concept that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, someone who can in some way transfer the attributes of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears optimistic and impractical," he stated.

"Based on my background, having a distinctly English tutor from early childhood will will not instantly produce the goal they hope for.

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

He continued: "The truth is, self-identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."

Buying Britishness

Of course, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and marketed.

"In my view the situation that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating