Educating a Baby to Grow into an 'English Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Money?

Child education concept
The company responsible for the advert claims that what looks like "luxury or peculiarity" is in fact "deliberate investment in initial instruction".

"A family residing in North London wants to find an remarkable and skilled instructor to guide their most junior child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."

When reading this advertisement, you might readily miss the term "initial stages" as mere figurative language.

However, it could be the most significant part of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a 12-month-old.

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

During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the news, with numerous wondering why?

Forward-Thinking Method

A tutoring expert, chief executive of Tutors International, which is supporting the family in their hunt, stated that in spite of initial skepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "advanced".

When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the unconventional aspect of their requirement, and how young their son is.

Nevertheless, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their firstborn was five, and by that stage "cultural influence had by then set in".

What precisely does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?

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

He explained the elder child had absorbed "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to Adam they hoped to prevent history to repeat itself with their younger child.

The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from the very start.

Tutoring discussion
Tutors International say the listing has initiated a larger conversation about how households perceive schooling, privilege and the function of cultural environment in learning.

Osmotic Learning

"A lot of the learning at the beginning here is kind of absorbed naturally," explained the CEO.

It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the British traits they want to instil.

He noted the tutor must be someone who studied at "the right kinds of schools – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The tutor simply needs to be the suitable individual, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.

Cost Not Relevant

The family told Adam the selected educator should ideally also have understanding of or passion in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, the arts and music so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of hobbies.

Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an instrument by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.

"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he notes.

But, despite all this instruction in "Britishness", could the child pick up so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he lives with in any case?

"Yes", answered he. "The family realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.

Overly Optimistic

Several in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.

Peter Cui, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not manufactured."

The expert explained that he had moved from Asia to the United Kingdom at the time of 7 years old, and had been brought up knowing and embodying two backgrounds. He continued to learn at a prestigious UK institution.

Peter Cui portrait
Peter Cui was the first person originating from the People's Republic of China to be elected to the position of Finance Head of the Cambridge Union Society.

"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can possibly impart the attributes of a English gentleman to a 12-month-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he commented.

"From my perspective, having a typically UK tutor from early childhood will does not instantly achieve the goal they want.

"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live several of the experiences they hope for their son."

He continued: "The reality is, self-identity can not be imposed from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."

Purchasing UK Culture

Naturally, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and commercialized.

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

Matthew Sampson
Matthew Sampson

Maya Chen is a wellness coach and lifestyle writer passionate about helping others achieve balance and vitality through practical, evidence-based strategies.