Tutoring a Toddler to Grow into an 'British Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Investment?
"A family based in North London seeks an exceptional and experienced educator to assist their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily miss the phrase "beginning" as mere an expression.
However, it may be the most important part of this unusual job advert, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have already been received since the unnamed family advertised their request for the highly paid tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained attention throughout the press, with many questioning why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that despite first scepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "innovative".
When he met the family, he noted they recognized the atypical nature of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already become established".
But what does the family indicate by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "extremely delicate, unspoken signals" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family informed the consultant they hoped to prevent this pattern to happen again with their younger child.
The strategy: To engage a British tutor, who must speak with standard English accent, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's via this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will acquire the English characteristics they want to instil.
Adam noted the tutor must be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed Adam the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, winter sports, artistic pursuits and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a wide range of hobbies.
Furthermore though, he said the family wanted the tutor to sign up the child on a variety of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's undoubtedly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by in any case?
"Certainly", answered Adam. "They realize this may not work, but they've just taken the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the education sector who have these doubts.
Another CEO, chief executive of a tutoring service, who provides individual instructors, wrote that "the process of embracing two identities, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."
Peter explained that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the time of 7 years old, and had been educated knowing and living two backgrounds. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that a single person can act as a embodiment of Britishness, an individual who can possibly transfer the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a 12-month-old child, appears naive and unfeasible," he stated.
"Based on my background, having a typically UK tutor from infancy will not automatically create the outcome they want.
"I did not have such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience several of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The truth is, personal identity can not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Certainly, English culture is something the CEO believes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the reality that the global community regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating