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"A family based in north London seeks an remarkable and qualified tutor to assist their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."

Upon seeing this post, you might naturally miss the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.

However, it might be the most significant aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it attempts to find a tutor for a one-year-old.

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

In recent few weeks, the listing has attracted attention throughout the media, with several wondering why?

Forward-Thinking Method

A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that despite early scepticism, he considered the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".

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

However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then become established".

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

It's "all-encompassing", Adam answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He said the older sibling had absorbed "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their infant.

The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.

Osmotic Learning

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

It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to instil.

Adam explained the tutor had to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.

Cost Not Relevant

The family informed him the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.

Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".

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

"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.

Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?

"Absolutely", replied the CEO. "The family understand this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.

Impractical

Several in the private teaching field who share these reservations.

Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."

Peter noted that he had relocated from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the attributes of a English gentleman onto a infant child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he stated.

"In my experience, having a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will will not automatically produce the result they desire.

"I did not have such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the experiences they desire for their son."

He stated: "The fact is, cultural identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."

Buying Britishness

Certainly, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be educated – and marketed.

"I think the reality that the global community views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating