🔗 Share this article

"A family located in the northern part of London is looking for an extraordinary and skilled educator to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an British gentleman."

Upon seeing this listing, you might naturally overlook the wording "first-steps" as simple figurative language.

Yet, it may be the most significant element of this distinctive employment listing, as it attempts to find a mentor for a one-year-old.

Many of responses have now been received since the unnamed family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "an exceptional individual".

During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention in the news, with numerous questioning why?

Forward-Thinking Method

The CEO, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their quest, explained that despite early skepticism, he viewed the concept "visionary", and "progressive".

When he spoke with the family, he noted they recognized the unusual character of their request, and how immature their son is.

Nevertheless, they explained that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural bias had by then become established".

But what did the family mean by "cultural predisposition"?

It's "everything", he replied. "How you eat, the way you speak".

He explained the elder child had adopted "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural ways. The family told him they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their new baby.

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

Natural Absorption

"Much of the education at the outset here is somewhat acquired indirectly," said the CEO.

It's by means of this natural absorption that the family are aiming the child will pick up the English characteristics they want to cultivate.

He said the tutor had to be somebody who went to "the right kinds of schools – similar types 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 don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.

Expense Not a Factor

The family told him the successful candidate should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of interests.

Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a selection of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".

In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and provide access.

"Considering the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he comments.

Yet, despite all this guidance in "Britishness", might the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?

"Yes", said the CEO. "The family realize this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'let's give it a go and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not relevant," he explained.

Overly Optimistic

Several in the tutoring industry who share these doubts.

Peter Cui, head and founder of a tutoring service, who provides personal educators, wrote that "the journey of adopting dual cultures, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be experienced personally, not designed."

The expert noted that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, and had been educated understanding and practicing both cultures. He continued to be educated at the University of Cambridge.

"The notion that a single person can function as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can possibly transfer the characteristics of a English gentleman onto a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and unfeasible," he commented.

"In my experience, having a quintessentially British tutor from early childhood will not necessarily create the outcome they hope for.

"I wasn't provided with such a figure, and however I have been privileged enough to live numerous of the experiences they hope for their son."

He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be imposed from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must come from within."

Purchasing UK Culture

Of course, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and marketed.

"I think the fact that the international society views us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating