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"A household located in north London is looking for an remarkable and experienced educator to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."

Looking at this advertisement, you might readily miss the wording "initial stages" as simple an expression.

But, it may be the most significant part of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a infant.

Numerous of submissions have already been submitted since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".

During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted interest in the media, with several questioning why?

Progressive Approach

Adam Caller, CEO and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that notwithstanding first doubt, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".

When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unusual aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.

Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".

What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?

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

He stated the elder child had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they did not want the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.

The plan: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.

Osmotic Learning

"Much of the education at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," stated Adam.

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

Adam said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

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

Expense Not a Factor

The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.

More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are about three years old".

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

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

Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?

"Yes", answered Adam. "The family realize this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he explained.

Overly Optimistic

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

Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."

He explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been brought up understanding and living dual heritages. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

"The concept that an individual can function as a representation of English culture, an individual who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he stated.

"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly English tutor from infancy will will not necessarily achieve the result they want.

"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."

He stated: "The reality is, self-identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Naturally, English culture is something the expert believes can be taught – and sold.

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