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"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to support their most junior child on his first steps to growing into an English gentleman."

Looking at this post, you might readily overlook the wording "initial stages" as simple figurative language.

However, it could be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it aims to find a tutor for a infant.

Many of applications have now been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted attention throughout the media, with several wondering why?

Forward-Thinking Method

The CEO, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that despite first doubt, he found the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".

When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional character of their demand, and how early in age their son is.

But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".

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

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

He said the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to recur with their infant.

The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.

Osmotic Learning

"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is rather acquired indirectly," said Adam.

It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.

He explained the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.

Money No Object

The family told Adam the selected educator should preferably also have understanding of or interest in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.

Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".

In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.

"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he notes.

But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the international family he resides with regardless?

"Certainly", said he. "They know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.

Impractical

There are some in the education sector who have those reservations.

Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."

The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.

"The notion that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he commented.

"In my experience, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will will not automatically create the outcome they desire.

"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience several of the experiences they desire for their son."

He stated: "The truth is, personal identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."

Buying Britishness

Naturally, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be taught – and commercialized.

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