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"A family based in North London wants to find an extraordinary and qualified tutor to assist their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."

Looking at this advertisement, you might readily skip the term "beginning" as just an expression.

Yet, it might be the most important part of this unusual job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a infant.

Many of submissions have already been sent in since the anonymous family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".

During the past few weeks, the listing has gained notice in the news, with many wondering why?

Innovative Idea

The CEO, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that despite early scepticism, he considered the concept "visionary", and "innovative".

When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the unusual aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.

Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".

But what did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?

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

He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed Adam they did not want the same situation to recur with their younger child.

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

Subtle Influence

"Much of the development at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained Adam.

It's through this subtle influence that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to impart.

Adam noted the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

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

Money No Object

The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.

Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".

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

"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.

But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child absorb alleged cultural leaning from the international family he lives with in any case?

"Certainly", said the CEO. "The parents know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.

Impractical

Several in the tutoring industry who share similar reservations.

Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."

He wrote that he had moved from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and embodying both cultures. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.

"The notion that a single person can act as a embodiment of Britishness, someone who can possibly impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a infant child, seems to me naive and impractical," he wrote.

"In my experience, having a quintessentially English tutor from early childhood will does not instantly produce the goal they hope for.

"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they desire for their son."

He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and commercialized.

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