Janet and John books trigger warning 😳

I too used to listen to Terry and his Janet and John stories in the car on my way to work. Part of my route was a longish road with traffic lights the whole length of it. Thank goodness for a red light so I could pause and try and control my laughter before I drove on. I often stayed in the car park so I could listen to the end.

I learnt to read with Janet and John, our daughter was born in 83 and was trying so hard to read at 3/4 so I found some Janet and John books at a jumble sale and taught her to read.

She sailed through them, it was very very repetitive but it worked.

I seem to remember Mummy was always in the kitchen with Janet and John helped daddy do the real man stuff.

Who gives tinkers toss of its a bit sexist when it does the job!

Magenta8

I learnt to read with the Beacon Readers during the 1950s. I can't remember much about them except that the more advanced ones had stories from the Greek mythology which I enjoyed. I don't think the series carries a trigger warning.

I seem to remember that Janet and John were criticised for promoting gender stereotypes.

My DCs learnt to read with the Oxford Reading Tree series.

I don't know which reading scheme was used to teach the GCs but they all learnt to read quite quickly.

Yes, thats why Janet and John in the original were no longer used. I learnt to read with Janet and John and I still have 3 in my "childhood memories" box in my attic.

The gender stereotypes are actually quite gross. John is always "doing" and Janet clapping her hands and enthusing in admiration at what he has done but doesn't take the lead between them.

I don't see the need for a trigger warning, its so darn obvious and I'm very glad that I didn't not feel the least interest in being like Janet at that age thanks to my mum who was more the "go and climb that tree" and patching the trousers I wore type. but I had friends whose parents brought them up with those stereotypes.

And it was pervasive too. I was in a "gang" ages 9/10 and there were just 2 girls, me, and another who was more limited at what she could physically do as she never had had the chance.

We had a gang meeting in someone's garage and we were all sorting out different sub clubs and who was going to be "the leader" of which one. I could climb a tree as fast as the fastest boy but didn't try that one

But, now, when it came to swimming, I had my mile badge and was the best by far and naturally expected to hold the post. But no, the boys all insisted, girls could not be leaders of anything.

I slipped outside for a cry, this gang was the big thing in my 9 year old life when we went out rambling together in the countryside and one boy came out as he disagreed with the other boys, but daren't say so.

I tried to get my own back by the only one going on the ice in the ditch, but cracked the ice and fell in 🤣.

PS, the Terry Wogan is new to me and had me in stitches, thank you.

I had no concept of gender roles when i learned to read.
I was just happy to be able to understand the words.

I learned to read with the Janet and John books. Very boring -John can run, see John run, Janet see John run etc. They did the trick though. I learned to read very early and have been avidly reading everything since - but have moved on from Janet and John.
Ah Terry. I doubt he'd last long on radio these days. Mores the pity 🙁

I think the books are of their age and hold fond memories for lots of people, however we are now living in a much more diverse and varied community.
I believe it does no harm to consider that, in the current day, some of the language and stereotypes are off putting to say the least.

Enid101

I think the books are of their age and hold fond memories for lots of people, however we are now living in a much more diverse and varied community.
I believe it does no harm to consider that, in the current day, some of the language and stereotypes are off putting to say the least.

If we were still using them, I’d agree. But we’re not.
Schools have moved on. Imagine New Way reading primers used to be called Gay Way 😱.
Janet and John could well serve as a history of how things were. Maybe a label saying that would be more useful.

My mother had hidden a Janet and John book in a large dressing table drawer. This dressing room was on the third floor. We did have a playroom up there but I think she hope I'd find it. Have a look and put it back.

All I can remember is the drawings of J&J, minus their clothing i was so horrified closed the book and put it back in the drawer and nobody ever mentioned it again.

I really missed out on sex education lessons but it didn't do me any harm.

They were simply a tool to set us up for years of reading pleasure.
One day "Run, john, run"
The next "The quality of mercy is not strained, it dropeth as the gentle rain..."

I never saw anything like nude Janet and John!!!

There are grown up Janet and John books, i think.
Also the mister men books have adult ones.

Terry Wogan is sadly missed by me and many others.
We used to have a GN member named Wilma Nickersfit(sp)
One of Terry’s fans I think.

I loved Terry, too.
I used to listen to him before school; we always had the radio on.

I love all of the beautiful pictures in these books, the Ladybird wildlife ones especially. The artists who worked on them were so very talented.
My heart still misses a beat when I spot a familiar copy in a thrift shop and can't decide between treating myself or leaving it to thrill a smaller reader!

I loved Enid Blyton books but my teacher was unimpressed with my book list.

I loathed ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ we had to read at school.

@mollygo, yes I think it was during the 1970s that the books were phased out in schools.

It is worth remembering that the stereotypes put around by the likes of the Tate brothers are experiencing a return - they are a modern and much more damaging Janet and John.

It seems to me that a trigger is excessive, but can I ask what they are actually putting on the books? What is this trigger warning in practice that we are discussing?

I mean are we over reacting to what in practice is actually an explanation on the back cover or a foreword explaining that we've moved on from Janet and John?

NanKate yes I remember the Terry Wogan versions. Absolutely hilarious. I remember some of the funny names of his listeners too like Janet Thatcardigan, Edna Bucket. Ha ha! 😂

I loved Terry's Janet & John stories, they used to crease me up as it drove to work. The best bit though was when Terry & John Marsh started laughing & ended up crying hysterically as no doubt tears of laughter ran down their faces. I have a CD of the stories for those "down" days

Heidi Vodka, Helena Handcart etc. Plus old Chuffer Dandridge always wanting to borrow a white fiver. Nora Treadwell's 'Tan and Touch up' emporium too. Happy days listening to Terry on the way to work.

'Is that your Ayrshire bacon?'
'No I'm just warming my hands'
Silence and gulping sounds as they tried to compose themselves. Me too!

After Janet and John I can recall few of the books we had at school: it was mainly something I did at home and once I joined a library it was (as well as other things like what Katy Did et al) it was as much Enid Blyton as could get my hands on (parental feeling they were 2nd rate, load of bolleaux) but I adored Stig of the Dump and all the Nesbitt series.

Parents very relieved when I got onto the Swallows and Amazons books as they were approved of ☺️.

Yet my favourite childhood book of all was an Enid Blyton "The Faraway Tree" I believe it's been made into a film?

Oh, of course, all the wonderful Ladybird books, as they were Approved Of.

Unfortunately, not all of us. There are some pretty nasty specimens out there.