THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND AFTER

Abstract

OWEN is probably the best-known educationalist to be considered in this volume. The story of his environmentalist theories, his communitarian colonies, and his educational experiments at New Lanark has been told many times. With what justification can his views and practices be examined once again? If little can be added to our factual knowledge of Owen’s life and philosophy it is still possible for a fresh approach to be made to the problem of Owen as a progressive educationalist. What were the sources of his views on education? How did they differ from the commonly accepted theories of his time? In what degree were his experiments radically new and how did they compare with current and preceding practice? The answers to these questions will help to assess the position of Owen in the progressive tradition.