Robert Owen

By:Steven Smith

Biographical Information

DOB: May 14, 1771

DOD: November 17, 1858

Lived in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, in Wales

Born to the local saddler and ironmonger

Sixth of seven children

His interests involved reading, sports, and he loved music

Career Experiences

Began his career in the textile industry

At age 27 he became a mill manager in Manchester

On January2, 1816 he opened his first infant school

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDWddc2-eMw

Beliefs & Theories

• His ideas originated from Scottish Enlightenment

• Owen rejected religion

• He turned to spiritualism

• Character is influenced by environment

• Education is the center of importance

• Physical punishment and prizes were not allowed

Publications

• His works consisted of four essays- The First Essay on the Principle of the Formation of Character

• All four essays resulted in “A New View of Society”• Journal• - The New Moral World

Relevance to ECE

• Proper education at an early age

• Temper or disposition is formed before age 2

• Promoted early childhood education

• Children are to be taught about the environment and theirsurroundings

7 W’s” of Education

Why Educate

When to Educate

Who Educates

Where to Educate

What is Taught

Who to Educate

Ways to Educate

Owen's Beliefs

Infant to young adult

To improve Society

Highly Qualified adults

In an environment with other learners

Methods on which he Came up with

Infants, children, teens, And adults

Three R's, sewing, Natural HistoryMusic, Geology, Marching

Works Cited

- Heart, James. The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 4th ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1965. (628). Print.

- Gordon, Peter. "Robert Owen." INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF EDUCATION. Paris, UNESCO: International Bureau of Education, 1999. Web. 26 Sep 2010. <http://www.ibe.unesco.org/publications/ThinkersPdf/owene.PDF>.

- Donnachie, Ian. "Education in Robert Owen's New Society: The New Lanark Institute and Schools." infed. N.p., 2003. Web. 26 Sep 2010. <http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-owen.htm>.