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"A family residing in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to support their most junior child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."

When reading this advertisement, you might easily overlook the phrase "first-steps" as mere an expression.

However, it might be the most significant element of this unusual employment listing, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a infant.

Many of submissions have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has received interest throughout the press, with numerous questioning why?

Progressive Approach

Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "progressive".

When he met the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their request, and how young their son is.

But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had by then become established".

What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?

It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "How you eat, how you speak".

He stated the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed him they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their younger child.

The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.

Subtle Influence

"Much of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.

It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they aim to instil.

The consultant explained the tutor had to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family hope to send their son to".

"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.

Expense Not a Factor

The family explained to him the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.

Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and open doors.

"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he notes.

But, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", would the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he is raised by anyway?

"Yes", answered he. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he explained.

Impractical

A number of in the private teaching field who express those doubts.

An education leader, head and founder of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."

The expert noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and living dual heritages. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.

"The concept that a single person can function as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can possibly transfer the qualities of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unrealistic," he commented.

"In my experience, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not necessarily create the result they desire.

"I never had such a figure, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live several of the experiences they desire for their son."

He added: "The fact is, personal identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."

Purchasing UK Culture

Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be instructed – and sold.

"I believe the fact that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating