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

"A family based in the northern part of London wants to find an exceptional and experienced educator to support their smallest child on his early path to becoming an British gentleman."

When reading this listing, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as mere a turn of phrase.

However, it could be the most significant element of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a mentor for a 12-month-old.

Hundreds of submissions have since been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".

Over the last few weeks, the advert has attracted notice across the news, with several asking why?

Forward-Thinking Method

Adam Caller, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, explained that in spite of early doubt, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".

When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how immature their son is.

But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then taken hold".

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

It's "comprehensive", the expert answered. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He explained the firstborn had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their younger child.

The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.

Subtle Influence

"A lot of the education at the start here is kind of absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.

It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to impart.

Adam noted the tutor had to be someone who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The educator just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.

Money No Object

The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.

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

In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will bring about success and provide access.

"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.

Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?

"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.

Impractical

There are some in the education sector who have these concerns.

An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."

Peter wrote that he had relocated from China to the Britain at the period of childhood, and had been educated knowing and embodying both cultures. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

"The idea that an individual can act as a embodiment of UK identity, an individual who can possibly transfer the qualities of a British gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he stated.

"From my perspective, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will does not automatically create the goal they want.

"I did not have that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the experiences they hope for their son."

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

Acquiring Englishness

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

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