Educating a Toddler to Grow into an 'British Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Investment?

"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to support their youngest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."

Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally miss the wording "beginning" as just figurative language.

But, it might be the most significant part of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.

Many of submissions have now been sent in since the anonymous family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has received attention throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?

Progressive Approach

The CEO, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that in spite of first doubt, he found the idea "visionary", and "advanced".

When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.

However, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then set in".

What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?

It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".

He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their younger child.

The plan: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.

Natural Absorption

"Much of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated Adam.

It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they want to instil.

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

"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.

Furthermore though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".

In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and create opportunities.

"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.

Yet, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", might the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the international family he resides with anyway?

"Absolutely", said Adam. "They know this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.

Impractical

There are some in the education sector who share those doubts.

Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, stated that "the development of embracing two identities, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not engineered."

The expert noted that he had emigrated from China to the UK at the period of seven, and had been brought up knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.

"The notion that one individual can act as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can in some way transfer the attributes of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he commented.

"Based on my background, employing a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will does not instantly achieve the result they hope for.

"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to experience several of the opportunities they desire for their son."

He continued: "The reality is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Of course, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be educated – and commercialized.

"I think the fact that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating