Coaching an Infant to Develop into an 'English Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Cost?
"A household based in north London seeks an exceptional and qualified instructor to guide their smallest child on his first steps to growing into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might easily skip the wording "beginning" as mere a turn of phrase.
However, it could be the most significant element of this unique job advert, as it aims to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have now been sent in since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention in the news, with numerous wondering why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, head and founder of an education consultancy, which is assisting the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding first doubt, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unusual nature of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural bias had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, the way you speak".
He explained the firstborn had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they hoped to prevent this pattern to repeat itself with their younger child.
The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Osmotic Learning
"Much of the development at the start here is rather absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they want to cultivate.
He said the tutor had to be an individual who went to "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have familiarity of or passion in riding, winter sports, the arts and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
More than that though, he said the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, guiding their son grow into a "English gentleman" will bring about success and open doors.
"Considering the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he comments.
However, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", could the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", answered the CEO. "The family understand this may not work, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
A number of in the tutoring industry who share similar concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of an educational organization, who supplies personal educators, wrote that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."
Peter wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the Britain at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He continued to be educated at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can act as a living vessel of UK identity, a person who can possibly transfer the qualities of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he commented.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will will not automatically create the result they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy several of the opportunities they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, personal identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Certainly, English culture is something the expert thinks can be educated – and marketed.
"I think the fact that the global community views us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating