Governess facts for kids
A governess was a woman who worked for a family. Her main job was to teach the children in their home. She was different from a nanny, who looked after children all day. A governess focused on their learning and early education.
Many girls in the past learned everything from their governess. Boys often went to boarding school when they were older. Some boys then went on to college.
Having a governess was very common for rich families. This was especially true until the early 20th century. In England, many children in the countryside had a governess. This was because good schools were often far away.
Contents
What Did a Governess Teach?
Governesses taught important basic skills. These included Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic (math). They also taught other subjects. These could be French, playing the piano, or drawing and painting.
Life as a Governess
A governess was not a household servant. But she was also not treated like a family member. This often made governesses feel quite lonely. They usually ate their meals by themselves.
For unmarried women from the middle class, being a governess was one of the few ways to earn money. When the children she taught grew up, she had to find a new job.
Governesses in Stories
Many old Novels feature governesses. This is because these books were often about rich families. For example, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre has a governess as the main character. So does Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë.
Maria, a character in The Sound of Music, also becomes a governess. She leaves the convent to teach the children of the von Trapp family.
Images for kids
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The daughters of Alexander Graham Bell with their governess, around 1885.
See also
In Spanish: Institutor para niños
