Educating a Baby to Grow into an 'British Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Money?

Child education concept
The company behind the advertisement explains that what looks like "luxury or peculiarity" is truly "intentional investment in early education".

"A household residing in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and skilled tutor to guide their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."

When reading this listing, you might readily skip the phrase "initial stages" as just a turn of phrase.

Yet, it may be the crucial part of this unusual job advert, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.

Many of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family posted their search for the Β£180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".

During the past few weeks, the advert has attracted interest throughout the news, with many asking why?

Forward-Thinking Method

Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that in spite of first scepticism, he viewed the idea "far sighted", and "progressive".

When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unusual aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.

Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then set in".

What precisely does the family mean by "cultural bias"?

It's "everything", he answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".

He stated the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told Adam they did not want this pattern to happen again with their new baby.

The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from the very start.

Tutoring discussion
The tutoring agency say the post has sparked a broader discussion about how families perceive education, advantage and the role of home and culture in development.

Natural Absorption

"A lot of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained the CEO.

It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to impart.

He noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – 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 performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.

Expense Not a Factor

The family explained to Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.

Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an tool by the time they are about three years old".

In the family's view, helping their son grow into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.

"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.

However, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", might the child pick up alleged cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he lives with regardless?

"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.

Overly Optimistic

There are some in the private teaching field who express similar reservations.

An education leader, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, stated that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."

He explained that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been raised knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.

Peter Cui portrait
Peter Cui was the pioneer born in China to be selected to the role of Treasurer of the university debating society.

"The idea that an individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can possibly impart the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, strikes me as naive and unfeasible," he commented.

"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will will not instantly achieve the result they want.

"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they desire for their son."

He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."

Acquiring Englishness

Naturally, Britishness is something the expert believes can be educated – and sold.

"I believe the fact that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating

Antonio Barber
Antonio Barber

A seasoned DIY enthusiast with over a decade of experience in home renovation and tool testing.