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"A family located in North London seeks an extraordinary and skilled educator to support their smallest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."

Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "first-steps" as mere an expression.

Yet, it could be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it attempts to recruit a tutor for a infant.

Many of submissions have since been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted notice across the press, with numerous questioning why?

Forward-Thinking Method

A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that despite first scepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".

When he met the family, he said they understood the unconventional aspect of their request, 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 held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already taken hold".

What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?

It's "everything", Adam answered. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".

He explained the older sibling had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.

The plan: To engage a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.

Subtle Influence

"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is kind of osmotic," said the expert.

It's by means of this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to impart.

The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.

More than that though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.

"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he adds.

Yet, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?

"Yes", replied Adam. "They know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

There are some in the private teaching field who express similar doubts.

Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."

Peter noted that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the age of childhood, and had been raised experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.

"The idea that a single person can serve as a representation of English culture, someone who can somehow transfer the attributes of a British gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he commented.

"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially English tutor from infancy will will not necessarily produce the outcome they want.

"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to experience numerous of the situations they hope for their son."

He stated: "The fact is, self-identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."

Acquiring Englishness

Naturally, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and sold.

"In my view the reality that the international society views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating