Educating a Toddler to Develop into an 'British Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Cost?

Child education concept
The organization behind the advertisement states that what looks like "luxury or peculiarity" is truly "purposeful commitment in early-stage learning".

"A household based in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced instructor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."

Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "first-steps" as mere an expression.

But, it may be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it seeks to recruit a tutor for a infant.

Many of responses have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".

Over the last few weeks, the post has received notice across the press, with numerous questioning why?

Progressive Approach

A tutoring expert, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their quest, explained that in spite of initial doubt, he found the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".

When he spoke with the family, he said they recognized the atypical character of their requirement, and how immature their son is.

However, 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 age "cultural influence had by then taken hold".

But what did the family mean by "cultural bias"?

It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He explained the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to the consultant they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.

The plan: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby from day one.

Tutoring discussion
Tutors International claim the post has sparked a broader discussion about how families perceive learning, advantage and the role of family background in education.

Natural Absorption

"Much of the education at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained Adam.

It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to instil.

He said the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "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 doing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.

Cost Not Relevant

The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.

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

In the family's minds, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and provide access.

"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.

Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", could the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?

"Absolutely", said he. "The family know this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.

Impractical

A number of in the tutoring industry who share these concerns.

Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."

He wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been raised understanding and living dual heritages. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.

Peter Cui portrait
Peter Cui was the first individual born in China to be chosen to the role of Finance Head of the Cambridge Union Society.

"The notion that a single person can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can somehow impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and impractical," he commented.

"In my experience, employing a typically UK tutor from infancy will does not automatically create the result they hope for.

"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the situations they desire for their son."

He added: "The fact is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."

Acquiring Englishness

Of course, English culture is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and marketed.

"I believe the situation that the global community holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating

Debra Vargas
Debra Vargas

A passionate space enthusiast and tech writer with a background in astrophysics, sharing discoveries and trends.