Governess
A governess is a woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. I
cant think of a better example that Julie Andrews who played Maria who taught the von Trapp children in the Sound
of Music.
Unlike a nanny or a babysitter, a governess concentrates on providing educational needs to
children and not their physical needs. Generally speaking a governess is there for school age children, so I
guess in a wealthy household you may find both a governess and a nanny. These days this is an unusual role
confined to the wealthiest of households or in remote areas like outback Australia.
Governesses taught "The three Rs" (reading, writing and arithmetic) to young children, and for older
children offered more worldly lessons such a finishing skills for young women. This may
include a second language such as French, an instrument and often painting and art
Governesses usually had a middle class background and education, and is the best paid of all childcare positions
as a rule. In Victorian times being a governess was one of the few legitimate ways an unmarried middle class woman
could support herself in that society.
Once a governesses charges grow up, she typically needs to seek a new position.
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