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"Parents located in north London is looking for an exceptional and experienced instructor to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."

Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "initial stages" as mere figurative language.

Yet, it could be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of applications have now been submitted since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".

During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted interest in the press, with several wondering why?

Progressive Approach

The CEO, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that despite first doubt, he considered the idea "visionary", and "innovative".

When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.

Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".

But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?

It's "comprehensive", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, how you speak".

He explained the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to recur with their infant.

The intention: To engage a British tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from the very start.

Subtle Influence

"Much of the education at the start here is kind of osmotic," said the expert.

It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to impart.

The consultant noted the tutor had to be an individual who attended "the right kinds of schools – similar types 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 may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.

Cost Not Relevant

The family explained to Adam the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.

Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will result in success and open doors.

"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he adds.

Yet, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", could the child adopt what is termed cultural leaning from the international family he resides with in any case?

"Absolutely", said he. "They understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.

Overly Optimistic

There are some in the education sector who express those doubts.

An education leader, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."

Peter noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the UK at the time of seven, and had been educated knowing and living dual heritages. He went on to be educated at the University of Cambridge.

"The notion that one individual can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can in some way impart the attributes of a English gentleman upon a infant child, appears optimistic and impractical," he commented.

"In my experience, engaging a typically English tutor from infancy will not instantly create the outcome they want.

"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live many of the experiences they aspire for their son."

He added: "The fact is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."

Purchasing UK Culture

Naturally, English culture is something the CEO believes can be taught – and marketed.

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