Heroes and Cultural Identity Project

SCE Heroes - Robert Owen

This is an introduction by HNC Early education students of a short study they are making about an 'individual' who has influenced our thinking about the role of education for individuals and society.

Hero: Robert Owen (1771-1858)

"What ideas individuals may attach to the term "Millennium" I know not; but I know that society may be formed so as to exist without crime, without poverty, with health greatly improved, with little, if any misery, and with intelligence and happiness increased a hundredfold; and no obstacle whatsoever intervenes at this moment except ignorance to prevent such a state of society from becoming universal".

Robert Owen, the son of a saddler and ironmonger, was to become an extremely successful mill owner during the British Industrial Revolution producing high quality cotton. If he had simply been a successful businessman he may have been forgotten by most people. He was not simply committed to be successful in business life, it would appear he was committed to social reform. Owen believed that a person's character is formed by the effects of their environment. Owen was convinced that if he created the right environment, he could produce rational, good and humane people he was convinced that education was crucially important and developing individuals.

An original thinker, a man of imagination, philanthropist, visionary and an idealist, but above all Robert Owen had the strength to try and realise his ideals.

It is his commitment to the process of education which sets him apart as a man of inspiration today.