Coaching a Toddler to Become an 'English Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Investment?
"Parents based in the northern part of London wants to find an remarkable and experienced educator to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this advertisement, you might easily skip the term "beginning" as just an expression.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique position posting, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the anonymous family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice across the news, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he viewed the idea "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how immature their son is.
But, 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 age "cultural influence had already set in".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural bias"?
It's "all-encompassing", Adam replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".
He stated the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family told the consultant they did not want history to happen again with their infant.
The strategy: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to shape the baby from day one.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained the expert.
It's via this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they wish to instil.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor just has to be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to the expert the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "British gentleman" will bring about success and provide access.
"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", would the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by anyway?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The parents understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the education sector who express those doubts.
Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies private tutors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He explained that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the period of 7 years old, and had been raised experiencing and embodying dual heritages. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can act as a embodiment of English culture, someone who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, seems to me naive and impractical," he commented.
"Based on my background, having a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will not automatically create the outcome they hope for.
"I never had that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to live several of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity can not be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, UK identity is something the CEO thinks can be educated – and commercialized.
"I think the reality that the world regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
