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

Child education concept
The company behind the listing claims that what seems like "extravagance or peculiarity" is actually "purposeful commitment in early-stage education".

"A household located in the northern part of London seeks an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to becoming an English gentleman."

Looking at this post, you might naturally skip the term "beginning" as simple figurative language.

Yet, it could be the most important aspect of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.

Many of responses have already been sent in since the unnamed family published their request for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".

In recent few weeks, the advert has attracted interest in the news, with several questioning why?

Forward-Thinking Method

Adam Caller, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that in spite of early skepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "progressive".

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

Nevertheless, they clarified 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 influence had already set in".

But what did the family refer to by "cultural bias"?

It's "everything", he responded. "How you eat, how you speak".

He stated the older sibling had adopted "very nuanced, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family informed him they hoped to prevent the same situation to repeat itself with their infant.

The plan: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from the very start.

Tutoring discussion
The education firm claim the advert has sparked a broader debate about how families view learning, privilege and the part of family background in education.

Subtle Influence

"Much of the education at the start here is somewhat absorbed naturally," stated the CEO.

It's via this natural absorption that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they wish to instil.

The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family plan to send their son to".

"The educator must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, simply by nature," he added.

Expense Not a Factor

The family explained to him the chosen tutor should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in horse riding, winter sports, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a broad spectrum of interests.

Furthermore though, he stated the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons 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 perspective, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.

"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a social class indicator," he adds.

Yet, notwithstanding all this tutelage in "English culture", could the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he resides with anyway?

"Yes", replied the CEO. "The family understand this could fail, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he stated.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

There are some in the tutoring industry who have similar concerns.

An education leader, CEO and founder of a tutoring service, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, discovering oneself, is something that must be lived into, not engineered."

The expert wrote that he had emigrated from the Far East to the UK at the time of seven, and had been educated knowing and living both cultures. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.

Peter Cui portrait
The executive was the pioneer born in China to be elected to the position of Finance Head of the university debating society.

"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can possibly impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, strikes me as naive and unrealistic," he commented.

"Based on my background, having a quintessentially UK tutor from babyhood will not instantly produce the goal they desire.

"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and yet I have been lucky enough to experience many of the experiences they desire for their son."

He stated: "The truth is, self-identity cannot be forced from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."

Purchasing UK Culture

Of course, English culture is something Adam hopes can be educated – and sold.

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

Tamara Salazar
Tamara Salazar

Elena is a technology strategist with over a decade of experience in IT consulting and digital transformation, passionate about helping businesses leverage tech for growth.