Educating a Baby to Grow into an 'British Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Investment?

Child education concept
The firm behind the listing claims that what looks like "luxury or peculiarity" is actually "deliberate commitment in initial education".

"A family located in north London seeks an remarkable and experienced educator to guide their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an British gentleman."

Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily skip the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.

Yet, it may be the most important aspect of this unusual employment listing, as it aims to hire a tutor for a 12-month-old.

Many of submissions have now been sent in since the unidentified family advertised their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".

Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted notice throughout the press, with many questioning why?

Forward-Thinking Method

The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, said that notwithstanding early doubt, he considered the plan "forward-looking", and "innovative".

When he consulted the family, he said they recognized the atypical aspect of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.

But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already set in".

What precisely does the family mean by "cultural bias"?

It's "all-encompassing", the expert responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He said the older sibling had absorbed "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they did not want history to repeat itself with their infant.

The strategy: To engage a UK tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.

Tutoring discussion
The education firm say the post has started a broader debate about how parents regard education, advantage and the function of cultural environment in learning.

Natural Absorption

"Much of the education at the outset here is rather acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.

It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to instil.

Adam noted the tutor must be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".

"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family told the expert the selected educator should preferably also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a wide range of hobbies.

Additionally though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and open doors.

"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.

Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "Britishness", would the child pick up so-called cultural bias from the international family he lives with anyway?

"Certainly", replied he. "They understand this could fail, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he said.

Overly Optimistic

There are some in the private teaching field who share similar reservations.

Peter Cui, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."

He explained that he had moved from China to the UK at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.

Peter Cui portrait
Peter Cui was the first individual born in mainland China to be chosen to the role of Treasurer of the Cambridge Union Society.

"The concept that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly transplant the qualities of a English gentleman upon a infant child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he stated.

"From my perspective, employing a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the outcome they want.

"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and yet I have been privileged enough to experience numerous of the opportunities they hope for their son."

He continued: "The fact is, personal identity should not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Naturally, Britishness is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and commercialized.

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

Kimberly Meza
Kimberly Meza

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring emerging technologies and their impact on society.