Coaching a Toddler to Become an 'British Gentleman' – Does It Justify the Money?

Child education concept
The firm behind the advert claims that what appears like "luxury or oddity" is in fact "deliberate commitment in early-stage education".

"A family located in North London is looking for an exceptional and experienced tutor to assist their youngest child on his early path to turning into an British gentleman."

When reading this post, you might easily overlook the phrase "beginning" as just a turn of phrase.

But, it may be the most significant element of this unique position posting, as it attempts to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.

Numerous of applications have already been submitted since the anonymous family advertised their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".

In recent few weeks, the post has received attention in the media, with several wondering why?

Forward-Thinking Method

Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, said that despite initial skepticism, he viewed the plan "visionary", and "innovative".

When he spoke with the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical aspect of their demand, and how young their son is.

But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".

What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?

It's "comprehensive", he responded. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He said the firstborn had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told the consultant they did not want the same situation to recur with their infant.

The intention: To bring in a English tutor, who needs to speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby from day one.

Tutoring discussion
The tutoring agency claim the advert has started a broader debate about how parents view schooling, advantage and the part of cultural environment in education.

Natural Absorption

"A great deal of the learning at the start here is kind of osmotic," stated the CEO.

It's through this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the UK customs they wish to impart.

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 just has to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, simply by nature," he said.

Money No Object

The family explained to the expert the chosen tutor should ideally also have understanding of or interest in riding, winter sports, creative fields and musical activities so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.

Furthermore though, he said the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and learning an tool by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's view, guiding their son become a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and create opportunities.

"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.

Yet, in spite of all this instruction in "UK identity", would the child absorb alleged cultural influence from the international family he lives with regardless?

"Yes", said Adam. "The family understand this could fail, but they've just taken the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he stated.

Idealistic and Unrealistic

A number of in the tutoring industry who express similar reservations.

An education leader, head and founder of Blue Education, who also offer private tutors, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."

He wrote that he had moved from China to the UK at the age of childhood, and had been raised experiencing and living dual heritages. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.

Peter Cui portrait
The educator was the pioneer born in mainland China to be elected to the role of Treasurer of the university debating society.

"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of English culture, someone who can in some way impart the qualities of a UK sophisticate to a one-year-old child, seems to me idealistic and impractical," he wrote.

"Based on my background, engaging a distinctly British tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily create the outcome they desire.

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

He stated: "The reality is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the external environment; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."

Purchasing UK Culture

Certainly, UK identity is something the expert believes can be taught – and marketed.

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

Joshua Reid
Joshua Reid

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and startup ecosystems across Europe.