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"A household residing in North London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified tutor to assist their youngest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."

Looking at this post, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as just figurative language.

Yet, it might be the most important part of this distinctive job advert, as it aims to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.

Numerous of responses have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".

During the past few weeks, the listing has received attention across the media, with several wondering why?

Forward-Thinking Method

Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their quest, stated that in spite of first skepticism, he found the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".

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

However, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".

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

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

He stated the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they did not want this pattern to happen again with their new baby.

The strategy: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.

Subtle Influence

"A lot of the development at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.

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

The consultant explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he said.

Money No Object

The family told Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts 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 register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".

In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.

"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.

But, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?

"Absolutely", replied he. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.

Impractical

There are some in the tutoring industry who have these reservations.

Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."

He explained that he had moved from China to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been raised knowing and embodying both cultures. He progressed to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

"The idea that an individual can serve as a representation of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and impractical," he wrote.

"Based on my background, having a quintessentially UK tutor from infancy will does not necessarily achieve the goal they hope for.

"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."

He stated: "The truth is, personal identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."

Acquiring Englishness

Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be instructed – and marketed.

"In my view the reality that the global community views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating