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"A family located in North London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced instructor to guide their most junior child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."

Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.

Yet, it could be the most significant aspect of this unique employment listing, as it attempts to find a teacher for a infant.

Numerous of responses have since been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted notice in the news, with numerous questioning why?

Progressive Approach

Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, explained that in spite of early skepticism, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".

When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional aspect of their demand, and how early in age their son is.

But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already set in".

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

It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The manner you eat, how you speak".

He said the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their new baby.

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

Subtle Influence

"Much of the learning at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," said the expert.

It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they aim to impart.

The consultant explained the tutor must be an individual who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".

"The tutor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.

Expense Not a Factor

The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of passions.

Additionally though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's minds, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about achievement and provide access.

"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.

But, in spite of all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?

"Yes", said Adam. "They understand 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 price of it is not relevant," he said.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

Several in the private teaching field who have those doubts.

An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."

Peter wrote that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up understanding and embodying two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.

"The notion that an individual can act as a representation of Britishness, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he wrote.

"From my perspective, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will does not automatically achieve the goal they hope for.

"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy numerous of the opportunities they aspire for their son."

He continued: "The truth is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."

Buying Britishness

Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and marketed.

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