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"Parents based in North London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified educator to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."

Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the term "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.

Yet, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of responses have now been received since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".

Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted notice in the media, with many asking why?

Innovative Idea

A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, explained that despite first doubt, he considered the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".

When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.

But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".

But what did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?

It's "comprehensive", he replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".

He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they did not want history to recur with their younger child.

The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to influence the baby from day one.

Natural Absorption

"Much of the learning at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the expert.

It's via this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to instil.

Adam explained the tutor had to be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family told the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.

Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's view, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.

"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he notes.

But, in spite of all this instruction in "English culture", could the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the international family he is raised by regardless?

"Absolutely", answered Adam. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.

Impractical

Several in the education sector who share these concerns.

Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."

He wrote that he had moved from China to the UK at the age of seven, and had been brought up knowing and embodying both cultures. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.

"The idea that a single person can act as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can possibly impart the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he commented.

"Based on my background, employing a typically British tutor from babyhood will not instantly create the outcome they desire.

"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the situations they hope for their son."

He added: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."

Purchasing UK Culture

Naturally, English culture is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and sold.

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