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"A household based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."

Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally miss the wording "first-steps" as mere figurative language.

But, it could be the crucial aspect of this unusual position posting, as it seeks to find a tutor for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of responses have since been submitted since the unidentified family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".

During the past few weeks, the post has received attention across the media, with several questioning why?

Progressive Approach

The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that in spite of initial doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".

When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unusual aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.

But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then taken hold".

What precisely does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?

It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".

He said the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.

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

Natural Absorption

"A great deal of the learning at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said Adam.

It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to instil.

Adam noted the tutor must be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".

"The instructor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.

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

In the family's perspective, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.

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

Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", might the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he is raised by in any case?

"Certainly", said he. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.

Impractical

Several in the private teaching field who have those reservations.

Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."

Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.

"The idea that an individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman to a one-year-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he commented.

"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they hope for.

"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they hope for their son."

He added: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."

Acquiring Englishness

Of course, English culture is something the expert believes can be educated – and commercialized.

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