Educating an Infant to Grow into an 'British Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Investment?
"A household based in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced tutor to assist their smallest child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might naturally overlook the phrase "beginning" as mere an expression.
But, it might be the most significant part of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Many of responses have now been sent in since the unnamed family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has gained notice in the news, with numerous questioning why?
Forward-Thinking Method
Adam Caller, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding initial scepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural influence had already become established".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they did not want the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will pick up the UK customs they aim to impart.
He noted the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he stated the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son become a "UK sophisticate" will lead to accomplishment and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.
However, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied he. "They realize this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
Several in the private teaching field who have those reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, commented that "the process of embracing two identities, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be grown into, not engineered."
The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of childhood, and had been educated knowing and embodying both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can somehow transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"From my perspective, employing a distinctly UK tutor from infancy will not necessarily achieve the outcome they desire.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been fortunate enough to live numerous of the situations they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and commercialized.
"I believe the fact that the global community regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating