Tutoring a Toddler to Develop into an 'British Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Cost?

"Parents based in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to becoming an English gentleman."

Looking at this listing, you might readily miss the phrase "beginning" as just an expression.

Yet, it may be the most important element of this unique employment listing, as it seeks to find a tutor for a one-year-old.

Numerous of responses have already been received since the unnamed family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".

Over the last few weeks, the post has received attention across the press, with many questioning why?

Progressive Approach

Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of first doubt, he found the plan "far sighted", and "innovative".

When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they understood the unconventional character of their request, and how young their son is.

Nevertheless, they clarified that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then become established".

What exactly did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?

It's "everything", the expert answered. "The way you eat, the way you speak".

He explained the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their new baby.

The plan: To bring in a UK tutor, who needs to speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.

Natural Absorption

"A lot of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," said the expert.

It's via this subtle influence that the family are hoping the child will acquire the UK customs they wish to cultivate.

He said the tutor needed to be somebody who attended "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".

"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.

Money No Object

The family told Adam the chosen tutor should preferably also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.

More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in success and create opportunities.

"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he comments.

But, in spite of all this tutelage in "Britishness", might the child pick up so-called cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with in any case?

"Certainly", answered Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as early as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

There are some in the tutoring industry who share similar doubts.

Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."

The expert explained that he had emigrated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up experiencing and embodying dual heritages. He went on to learn at Cambridge University.

"The concept that an individual can serve as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate onto a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and unrealistic," he commented.

"In my experience, having a typically English tutor from early childhood will does not necessarily produce the outcome they desire.

"I never had that kind of mentor, and yet I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the experiences they desire for their son."

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

Acquiring Englishness

Of course, UK identity is something the expert believes can be educated – and sold.

"In my view the fact that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating