Coaching a Toddler to Develop into an 'English Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Money?
"A family based in North London seeks an remarkable and qualified educator to support their youngest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this post, you might readily overlook the term "initial stages" as simple a turn of phrase.
But, it could be the most significant part of this unique position posting, as it seeks to find a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the unidentified family published their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the post has attracted notice in the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their search, said that notwithstanding first scepticism, he found the concept "forward-looking", and "progressive".
When he consulted the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, 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 point "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they did not want the same situation to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will pick up the British traits they want to impart.
He noted the tutor needed to be someone who attended "prestigious academies – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, just naturally," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to shape the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", might the child absorb alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with anyway?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he stated.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the education sector who have these doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, wrote that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
He wrote that he had relocated from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and embodying both cultures. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can possibly transfer the qualities of a British gentleman upon a infant child, appears naive and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will not instantly create the goal they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy several of the situations they desire for their son."
He continued: "The truth is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, Britishness is something Adam believes can be educated – and marketed.
"I believe the reality that the world views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating