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"Parents based in north London seeks an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."

When reading this post, you might naturally skip the wording "beginning" as mere figurative language.

But, it may be the most important element of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of applications have now been sent in since the unnamed family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".

In recent few weeks, the advert has gained notice in the media, with several wondering why?

Innovative Idea

A tutoring expert, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".

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

But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".

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

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

He said the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told Adam they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.

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

Subtle Influence

"Much of the development at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," stated Adam.

It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they wish to impart.

The consultant noted the tutor must be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.

Expense Not a Factor

The family informed Adam the successful candidate should preferably also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.

Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are about three years old".

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

"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.

But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he is raised by anyway?

"Certainly", said he. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.

Impractical

Several in the education sector who express similar reservations.

Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."

The expert wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been brought up experiencing and living dual heritages. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.

"The notion that an individual can serve as a representation of Britishness, a person who can in some way transplant the qualities of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.

"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the result they want.

"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the situations they hope for their son."

He stated: "The reality is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."

Buying Britishness

Of course, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and commercialized.

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