Educating a Toddler to Grow into an 'British Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Money?

"A family based in North London is looking for an exceptional and qualified educator to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."

Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily miss the wording "initial stages" as simple figurative language.

But, it might be the most significant part of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of submissions have already been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".

Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest throughout the news, with numerous questioning why?

Forward-Thinking Method

Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that despite early scepticism, he considered the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".

When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual aspect of their request, and how young their son is.

Nevertheless, 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 stage "cultural conditioning had already set in".

But what does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?

It's "everything", the expert responded. "How you eat, how you speak".

He said the elder child had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told Adam they hoped to prevent this pattern to recur with their new baby.

The plan: To hire a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.

Subtle Influence

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

It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the UK customs they want to impart.

He said the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

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

Money No Object

The family informed Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.

More than that though, he said the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and provide access.

"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.

But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", would the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by regardless?

"Absolutely", answered he. "The family realize this may not work, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.

Overly Optimistic

Several in the tutoring industry who express those reservations.

Peter Cui, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."

The expert explained that he had moved from China to the Britain at the time of childhood, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to learn at Cambridge University.

"The concept that an individual can function as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can in some way transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he wrote.

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

"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live several of the situations they aspire for their son."

He continued: "The fact is, personal identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must be internally driven."

Buying Britishness

Naturally, English culture is something the expert hopes can be taught – and commercialized.

"I believe the situation that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating