Educating an Infant to Become an 'English Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Cost?

"Parents located in North London seeks an extraordinary and skilled educator to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."

When reading this post, you might readily overlook the term "initial stages" as mere a turn of phrase.

However, it might be the most important element of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.

Hundreds of responses have since been sent in since the anonymous family advertised their search for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".

In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted notice across the press, with many wondering why?

Progressive Approach

Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is supporting the family in their hunt, said that in spite of initial doubt, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".

When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.

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

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

It's "all-encompassing", he replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".

He stated the elder child had absorbed "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they wished to avoid history to recur with their new baby.

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

Osmotic Learning

"A lot of the development at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the CEO.

It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they aim to instil.

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

"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.

Money No Object

The family told Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, the arts and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of passions.

Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".

In the family's perspective, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.

"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he notes.

However, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he is raised by regardless?

"Yes", said Adam. "They realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

Several in the education sector who share these reservations.

Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."

Peter noted that he had relocated from China to the UK at the age of seven, and had been educated knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to study at a prestigious UK institution.

"The concept that one individual can serve as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can in some way transfer the attributes of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears idealistic and impractical," he stated.

"Based on my background, employing a typically UK tutor from infancy will will not instantly achieve the outcome they hope for.

"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they desire for their son."

He added: "The truth is, personal identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."

Purchasing UK Culture

Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be taught – and marketed.

"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating