Educating an Infant to Become an 'British Gentleman' – Is It Worth the Investment?
"A family residing in North London is looking for an exceptional and skilled educator to support their smallest child on his first steps to turning into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might easily skip the wording "initial stages" as simple figurative language.
However, it could be the most significant aspect of this unique job advert, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have since been submitted since the anonymous family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received attention in the news, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their search, said that despite initial doubt, he viewed the concept "forward-looking", and "innovative".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unusual aspect of their request, and how immature their son is.
But, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural bias had already set in".
What precisely did the family refer to by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "How you eat, how you speak".
He explained the elder child had adopted "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to the consultant they did not want history to happen again with their new baby.
The plan: To hire a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is somewhat absorbed naturally," explained Adam.
It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will adopt the British traits they want to cultivate.
He said the tutor must be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The tutor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be doing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Cost Not Relevant
The family told the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, creative fields and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of interests.
More than that though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are about three years old".
In the family's minds, helping their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in success and provide access.
"Considering the rights and wrongs of that, because it's undoubtedly a social class indicator," he comments.
Yet, notwithstanding all this guidance in "UK identity", could the child pick up what is termed cultural bias from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The family realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'why not attempt it and let's go as soon as we can', because the expense of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
A number of in the education sector who share those reservations.
Peter Cui, head and founder of an educational organization, who provides private tutors, commented that "the development of becoming bicultural, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert wrote that he had relocated from the Far East to the United Kingdom at the age of 7 years old, and had been educated experiencing and embodying dual heritages. He progressed to study at Cambridge University.
"The idea that a single person can serve as a embodiment of UK identity, someone who can somehow impart the attributes of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and impractical," he stated.
"In my experience, employing a quintessentially British tutor from infancy will will not necessarily create the result they hope for.
"I never had such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to live many of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, Britishness is something the expert thinks can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the global community regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating