Tutoring a Toddler to Become an 'British Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Investment?

Child education concept
The company responsible for the advertisement claims that what seems like "extravagance or peculiarity" is truly "deliberate investment in early instruction".

"A family residing in north London wants to find an remarkable and skilled tutor to guide their youngest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."

When reading this listing, you might naturally skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.

But, it might be the most significant part of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to find a teacher for a 12-month-old.

Hundreds of submissions have since been submitted since the unidentified family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".

During the past few weeks, the post has received attention throughout the media, with many asking why?

Innovative Idea

A tutoring expert, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of initial doubt, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "innovative".

When he met the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional nature of their request, and how young their son is.

However, they explained 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 point "cultural influence had already taken hold".

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

It's "everything", Adam answered. "The way you eat, how you speak".

He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their younger child.

The plan: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.

Tutoring discussion
Tutors International say the listing has started a broader conversation about how parents regard schooling, elitism and the function of home and culture in learning.

Subtle Influence

"A lot of the learning at the start here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.

It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to impart.

Adam explained the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family told the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of interests.

Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and learning an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's minds, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and provide access.

"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.

However, despite all this instruction in "English culture", would the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?

"Yes", answered he. "They know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'we should try and we should start as early as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

There are some in the education sector who share these concerns.

Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."

He explained that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing two backgrounds. He continued to learn at the University of Cambridge.

Peter Cui portrait
Peter Cui was the pioneer hailing from China to be selected to the position of Treasurer of the Cambridge Union.

"The concept that an individual can act as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can in some way impart the characteristics of a English gentleman to a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unfeasible," he wrote.

"From my perspective, employing a distinctly UK tutor from early childhood will does not automatically create the outcome they desire.

"I never had such a tutor, and however I have been fortunate enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."

He continued: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."

Purchasing UK Culture

Of course, UK identity is something the expert thinks can be educated – and marketed.

"In my view the reality that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating

Edward Riley
Edward Riley

A lottery enthusiast and analyst with over a decade of experience in UK gaming trends and strategies.