Educating a Baby to Develop into an 'English Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Cost?

"A family located in North London seeks an exceptional and skilled educator to support their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."

Upon seeing this post, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as simple an expression.

However, it might be the most important aspect of this unique position posting, as it aims to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.

Hundreds of responses have already been received since the anonymous family posted their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted interest in the media, with several questioning why?

Progressive Approach

The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their quest, said that notwithstanding first scepticism, he viewed the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".

When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized the atypical nature of their demand, and how immature their son is.

But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".

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

It's "all-encompassing", Adam responded. "How you eat, the manner you speak".

He explained the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their infant.

The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.

Subtle Influence

"A great deal of the development at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated Adam.

It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to cultivate.

The consultant explained the tutor must 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 must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he commented.

Money No Object

The family told him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.

More than that though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's minds, guiding their son become a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and provide access.

"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.

But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?

"Certainly", said Adam. "The parents know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.

Overly Optimistic

Several in the education sector who have similar doubts.

Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."

The expert explained that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and embodying both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.

"The notion that one individual can function as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can somehow impart the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a infant child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.

"Based on my background, engaging a typically UK tutor from babyhood will does not automatically create the outcome they hope for.

"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they hope for their son."

He continued: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."

Purchasing UK Culture

Certainly, English culture is something Adam thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.

"I think the fact that the world views us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating