What should a student learn to become a gentleman?

We have the ancient classical Western liberal arts: 3 language (trivium) and 4 mathematical (quadrivium).

• Rhetoric
• Grammar
• Logic
• Astronomy
• Arithmetic
• Geometry
• Music

For an alternative take, consider the Chinese 6 arts

• Archery
• Chariot
• Music of China
• Li (Confucianism)
• Chinese calligraphy
• Chinese mathematics

Note that the linked Wikipedia entry for Chinese mathematics is sloppy and tenditious.

Alternatively: 1) Propriety, 2) Music, 3) Archery, 4) Driving, 5) Composition, 6) Mathematics

Among the Persians the virtues were: "Ride, shoot straight, and speak truth"

Hmm. It looks like the trivium/quadrivium has some implicit assumptions about what else the student has learned, easy to spot by comparison with the others. Plato wanted lots of PE, and careful attention to the poetry and music taught to make sure the proper virtues were promoted. Plato's not our best guide, though -- some of his suggestions have been tried and found wanting.

If you replace mere astronomy with introductions to science/technology, and round out the Western liberal arts with the missing Propriety/Philosophy, Driving, and Shooting you get a better base. Add on history and you get someone less easily led astray by fashionable nonsense: more of the ideal gentleman.

How do I do as a gentleman? I like to think that I do fine in "propriety/speaking truth", and in writing and math and science/technology. Music -- not so well, but I do sing in choir sometimes (they're desperate). My driving is still a bit better than average (they taught us courteous driving) but not superb, my shooting is mediocre, and I'm downright lousy in gymnastics or racing.