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"A household based in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."

Looking at this post, you might readily miss the phrase "first-steps" as just an expression.

However, it may be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it seeks to hire a tutor for a infant.

Hundreds of responses have now been received since the anonymous family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".

In recent few weeks, the listing has gained attention throughout the press, with several questioning why?

Progressive Approach

Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "innovative".

When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.

But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".

What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?

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

He stated the elder child had adopted "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.

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

Natural Absorption

"Much of the education at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," said the CEO.

It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they want to impart.

Adam explained the tutor needed to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".

"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.

Expense Not a Factor

The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or interest in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.

More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.

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

Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child pick up alleged cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?

"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family understand this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

There are some in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.

Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."

He noted that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.

"The idea that a single person can act as a living vessel of Britishness, someone who can possibly transplant the attributes of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as idealistic and unrealistic," he wrote.

"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not necessarily create the outcome they desire.

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

He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be imposed from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."

Purchasing UK Culture

Of course, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and commercialized.

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