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"A family residing in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."

Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the wording "initial stages" as mere figurative language.

Yet, it might be the most important part of this unusual position posting, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.

Many of submissions have already been received since the unidentified family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".

During the past few weeks, the post has gained notice in the media, with many wondering why?

Forward-Thinking Method

Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding early skepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".

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

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

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

It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He said the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent history to recur with their infant.

The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.

Natural Absorption

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

It's via this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they want to cultivate.

The consultant noted the tutor must be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".

"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.

Cost Not Relevant

The family informed him the successful candidate should preferably also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.

More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's perspective, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.

"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.

But, despite all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?

"Certainly", answered the CEO. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.

Impractical

There are some in the private teaching field who share those reservations.

Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."

Peter wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been raised understanding and living dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.

"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of UK identity, a person who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.

"In my experience, having a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will not automatically produce the outcome they hope for.

"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."

He stated: "The truth is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Purchasing UK Culture

Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.

"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating