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"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced educator to support their smallest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."

Upon seeing this post, you might easily overlook the phrase "initial stages" as simple figurative language.

However, it may be the most important part of this unique position posting, as it aims to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.

Many of applications have since been submitted since the anonymous family published their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".

During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the press, with many questioning why?

Innovative Idea

A tutoring expert, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that despite early scepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "advanced".

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

Nevertheless, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".

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

It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".

He explained the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to recur with their younger child.

The plan: To hire a British tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby right from the beginning.

Osmotic Learning

"A great deal of the learning at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," stated the expert.

It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they want to impart.

He said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".

"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family informed him the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.

Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".

In the family's view, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will lead to achievement and open doors.

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

Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child adopt alleged cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?

"Yes", said he. "They realize this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

There are some in the tutoring industry who express those concerns.

Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."

The expert noted that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised understanding and practicing two backgrounds. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge.

"The concept that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.

"In my experience, having a typically British tutor from infancy will will not automatically achieve the outcome they desire.

"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the situations they aspire for their son."

He stated: "The fact is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Certainly, Britishness is something Adam believes can be taught – and sold.

"I think the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating