Tutoring an Infant to Grow into an 'English Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Money?

"Parents located in north London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced educator to support their most junior child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."

Looking at this listing, you might easily miss the term "initial stages" as just an expression.

But, it could be the most significant aspect of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a tutor for a one-year-old.

Many of submissions have already been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "someone very special".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted notice in the press, with several asking why?

Innovative Idea

The CEO, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding initial doubt, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "innovative".

When he consulted the family, he mentioned they understood the atypical aspect of their request, 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 waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already become established".

But what does the family mean by "cultural leaning"?

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

He said the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.

The intention: To bring in a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.

Osmotic Learning

"Much of the development at the start here is kind of acquired indirectly," explained the CEO.

It's through this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to impart.

He said the tutor must be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The educator simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.

Cost Not Relevant

The family explained to him the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or interest in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of hobbies.

More than that though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are about three years old".

In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about achievement and open doors.

"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.

Yet, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child absorb what is termed cultural bias from the international family he lives with in any case?

"Absolutely", answered he. "The parents know this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.

Impractical

Several in the private teaching field who have these concerns.

An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."

The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the UK at the age of seven, and had been raised understanding and embodying both cultures. He progressed to learn at the University of Cambridge.

"The notion that one individual can act as a representation of Britishness, someone who can in some way impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a infant child, appears idealistic and unfeasible," he commented.

"In my experience, engaging a distinctly British tutor from babyhood will does not instantly produce the outcome they desire.

"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and yet I have been fortunate enough to live several of the experiences they aspire for their son."

He stated: "The reality is, self-identity cannot be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Purchasing UK Culture

Certainly, UK identity is something the CEO hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.

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