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

Child education concept
The firm responsible for the listing claims that what seems like "luxury or peculiarity" is in fact "intentional commitment in early learning".

"A family based in North London is looking for an extraordinary and experienced educator to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."

Looking at this post, you might naturally overlook the wording "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.

But, it might be the crucial element of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of applications have already been sent in since the anonymous family posted their request for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".

In recent few weeks, the listing has gained interest throughout the media, with numerous asking why?

Progressive Approach

Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early doubt, he found the concept "visionary", and "innovative".

When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the atypical nature of their request, and how immature their son is.

Nevertheless, they stated that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had already become established".

What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?

It's "comprehensive", he replied. "The way you eat, how you speak".

He explained the firstborn had picked up "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed him they did not want this pattern to happen again with their younger child.

The intention: To engage a English tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby from day one.

Tutoring discussion
Tutors International claim the post has sparked a larger discussion about how families perceive education, advantage and the part of home and culture in development.

Osmotic Learning

"A great deal of the learning at the start here is rather osmotic," explained the expert.

It's by means of this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to impart.

The consultant said the tutor needed to be an individual 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 suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.

Expense Not a Factor

The family explained to Adam the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in horse riding, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.

Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and open doors.

"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he comments.

Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the globally influenced family he lives with anyway?

"Yes", answered Adam. "They know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the expense of it is not relevant," he explained.

Impractical

Several in the education sector who share these concerns.

Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."

Peter explained that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He continued to study at Cambridge University.

Peter Cui portrait
Peter Cui was the first individual hailing from mainland China to be selected to the post of Finance Head of the university debating society.

"The idea that a single person can function as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can in some way transfer the attributes of a English gentleman onto a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and unfeasible," he stated.

"In my experience, having a quintessentially English tutor from babyhood will not necessarily achieve the result they hope for.

"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the situations they hope for their son."

He added: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be forced from the external environment; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Certainly, English culture is something the CEO believes can be taught – and commercialized.

"I think the fact that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating

Breanna Martin
Breanna Martin

A tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK startups and digital innovation, passionate about emerging technologies.