Educating an Infant to Grow into an 'English Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Investment?
"A household residing in north London wants to find an extraordinary and experienced instructor to guide their youngest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
When reading this post, you might easily miss the term "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
But, it may be the most significant aspect of this distinctive employment listing, as it aims to recruit a tutor for a 12-month-old.
Many of submissions have since been sent in since the unnamed family advertised their call for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the post has gained attention throughout the media, with several asking why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their search, explained that notwithstanding first skepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "innovative".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
But, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already become established".
But what did the family indicate by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert replied. "The manner you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to him they did not want the same situation to recur with their younger child.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who should speak with RP, to shape the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the development at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the expert.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to cultivate.
The consultant said the tutor needed to be someone who studied at "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor just has to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed him the selected educator should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in horse riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to shape the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
More than that though, he stated the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son become a "British gentleman" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
But, despite all this instruction in "UK identity", could the child absorb so-called cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", said Adam. "The family understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'why not attempt it and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he explained.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who express these concerns.
An education leader, chief executive of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He noted that he had moved from China to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been brought up understanding and practicing both cultures. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The notion that a single person can act as a living vessel of Britishness, a person who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, seems to me optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not instantly create the goal they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been fortunate enough to experience many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He added: "The reality is, personal identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating