How to choose the right governess - choose a governess
Announcements with the offers of the services of a governess can be found quite a lot. Each of them guarantees "professionalism" and "responsibility".And yet you can not completely trust the verbal promises, you need to know how to choose the right governess and what requirements to present to her in the process of work.
Everything new is a well-forgotten old
The word "governess" recently became part of our everyday life - approximately in the late 90s, when after the breakup of the Soviet Union new economic relations began to take shape and very rich people appeared. Here they are, and revived the traditions of the 19th century, when every wealthy noble family lived tutors. The latter engaged in elementary education of children, followed their behavior, instilled good manners. The richest parents invited tutors from abroad to ensure that children learn foreign languages from an early age. Sometimes in the family lived a few tutors. One, for example, was a native speaker of French, the other - English. Accordingly, one day the child was engaged in an Englishman, the other day - a Frenchman. As a result of the daily language practice, by the age of 10, the child had mastered several languages perfectly.
What is the responsibility of a governess
First, let's consider what exactly a governess should do in your home? A governess is not a nanny. Therefore, if you need a person who will just look after the child( in time to feed him, put him to bed and take him out for a walk), look for a nanny. If you need an expert who will deal directly with the upbringing and development of your child - then a governess really needs to be. What kind of profile the specialist will have - a foreign language, general educational subjects, or the development of the child's general outlook will be the responsibility - the parents themselves decide, based on the tasks that they put in perspective for the children.
Criteria for choosing a specialist
So, let's return to the question of how to properly choose a governess and what to pay special attention to. It's really hard not to get lost, because all job seekers will convince you that they are "the best."Therefore, we will highlight the most important points to which you should pay attention:
- Education. If you need a nanny, namely a governess, then higher education, preferably pedagogical, must be compulsory.
- Experience with children.
- Any recommendations. If an applicant for a governess's position claims that she will do her job well, since she worked in families before, but does not provide a written review of her work and does not give contact details of her former employers, this fact should alert. Either the person did not actually work as a governess, or feedback about the work will not be flattering.
What is more important: knowledge or upbringing?
Perhaps, after meeting with several applicants, you will doubt: who do you prefer? For example, one applicant will seem more competent in teaching;the second will be somewhat inferior to the first in knowledge, but at the same time to possess a fine easy character, charm - you will feel that it is with her that the child will be very comfortable. The knowledge that a governess can give your child, should be useful to him in the future;but you can not ignore the fact that the child will spend a lot of time with this person, and, of course, "absorb" not only knowledge, but also the manner of behavior, communication. Therefore, in some cases, if you see that the applicant in place has excellent knowledge, but at the same time, as a person, is far from perfect - too strict, gloomy, unfriendly, then, perhaps, it is worth making your choice in favor of a woman softer,in communication. A small gap in knowledge can always be filled, it is much more difficult to correct the mistakes made by the teacher in shaping the nature of the pupil, and in fact children willfully copy the behavior of the adults with whom they communicate. In addition, excessive severity, sharpness governess can completely discourage the child's interest in knowledge.
Alien in the house
If it is assumed that the governess will live in your home for a long time, you need to think about yourself: whether she is pleasant to you as a person, whether this woman will irritate you with her constant presence and will not create any problems. The question is rather delicate, but, perhaps, it can not be ignored. If there are men in the house: grown-up sons, relatives, perhaps the head of the family himself, who are not indifferent to women's beauty, then it is not worthwhile to invite as a governess a young pretty unmarried woman.
The family position of the applicant must necessarily inquire not only from these considerations: it is necessary to find out whether her own children or her husband will not separate her from work, that is, how much she is free in those weeks or months when her full employment is expected.
A clever, educated, cultured woman with high moral principles is the governess's ideal for your child!