Coaching a Toddler to Become an 'English Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Investment?

Child education concept
The firm behind the advert explains that what looks like "luxury or peculiarity" is actually "deliberate commitment in early-stage education".

"A household based in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and skilled instructor to assist their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an English gentleman."

Looking at this post, you might naturally miss the phrase "first-steps" as simple a turn of phrase.

However, it may be the most significant part of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.

Hundreds of submissions have now been received since the unidentified family posted their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".

Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest throughout the press, with several questioning why?

Progressive Approach

A tutoring expert, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that notwithstanding initial skepticism, he considered the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".

When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unusual character of their demand, and how young their son is.

But, they clarified that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".

But what did the family mean by "cultural leaning"?

It's "comprehensive", he replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".

He stated the elder child had picked up "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their younger child.

The strategy: To bring in a British tutor, who should speak with RP, to guide the baby from day one.

Tutoring discussion
The tutoring agency state the advert has initiated a wider conversation about how families regard learning, elitism and the role of family background in education.

Subtle Influence

"Much of the learning at the outset here is somewhat osmotic," explained the expert.

It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to instil.

The consultant noted the tutor had to be somebody who attended "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The instructor must be the right kind of person, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, just naturally," he said.

Money No Object

The family informed the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.

Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's view, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to success and provide access.

"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he comments.

However, despite all this guidance in "English culture", could the child absorb alleged cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?

"Certainly", replied the CEO. "The family understand this could fail, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he stated.

Impractical

Several in the education sector who express these concerns.

Another CEO, chief executive of an educational organization, who also offer personal educators, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."

The expert noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the age of childhood, and had been raised understanding and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.

Peter Cui portrait
Peter Cui was the first person originating from China to be selected to the post of Treasurer of the Cambridge Union.

"The idea that an individual can act as a embodiment of Britishness, a person who can in some way transfer the characteristics of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and impractical," he commented.

"In my experience, having a typically UK tutor from infancy will will not automatically produce the goal they hope for.

"I did not have such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience several of the situations they hope for their son."

He stated: "The truth is, personal identity can not be imposed from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Acquiring Englishness

Of course, UK identity is something Adam hopes can be instructed – and sold.

"I think the fact that the world holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating

Julie Davis
Julie Davis

Liam de Wit is a community enthusiast and writer who loves sharing local stories and hidden gems from the Netherlands.