Coaching a Toddler to Develop into an 'English Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Cost?
"A household residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily skip the phrase "initial stages" as mere figurative language.
Yet, it could be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to find a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of applications have already been received since the unnamed family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the post has gained attention in the press, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, explained that despite first scepticism, he viewed the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had by then set in".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", he answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they did not want the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the education at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the expert.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the British traits they want to impart.
Adam noted the tutor had to be someone who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told him the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son become a "British gentleman" will bring about success and open doors.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.
But, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Certainly", answered the CEO. "The parents realize this could fail, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who share these reservations.
An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert explained that he had moved from China to the UK at the time of seven, and had been educated experiencing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The notion that an individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, someone who can possibly impart the attributes of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly English tutor from infancy will will not automatically achieve the result they desire.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the experiences they hope for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the situation that the world regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating