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"A household residing in North London seeks an exceptional and skilled tutor to support their smallest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."

When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the phrase "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.

But, it might be the most important part of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to recruit a mentor for a infant.

Many of applications have already been sent in since the unidentified family published their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".

During the past few weeks, the advert has received notice throughout the press, with several wondering why?

Progressive Approach

Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".

When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional nature of their requirement, and how immature their son is.

But, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".

What precisely did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?

It's "everything", he replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".

He explained the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family informed the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.

The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.

Subtle Influence

"Much of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," explained the expert.

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

The consultant noted the tutor had to be someone who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family explained to him the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of interests.

Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's view, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.

"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.

However, in spite of all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the international family he is raised by anyway?

"Absolutely", said he. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.

Impractical

A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar concerns.

Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."

The expert noted that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been brought up experiencing and practicing dual heritages. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of UK identity, someone who can in some way impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he commented.

"Based on my background, employing a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will will not instantly produce the goal they want.

"I did not have such a figure, and however I have been lucky enough to experience several of the experiences they desire for their son."

He continued: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."

Acquiring Englishness

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

"I believe the situation that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating