Abstract
The author reviewed the change of owen's status from four periods:during Owen's life time, the latter part of 19th century ，the early part and latter part of 20th century. Then the writer discussed his concept and its practice. Owen's status was influenced by space-time. After finishing the affairs in New Lanark, he devoted himself to spread of socialism and labor movement. He was denounced until some historians of Fabian Society started to write his biography. They approved Owen as a pioneer of popular education and infant school education. Since then Owen's status of being an educator and educational reformer was built. During the latter part of 20th century, critics still confirmed Owen's contribution. Besides him, the author also affirms David Dale's, James Buchanan's and the other teachers' contribution to popular education and infant school education. It was undoubted that Owen was an educator and the achievements in New Lanark school were remarkable. However, there was some difference between educational concept and its practice, which reflected that reality imposed restrictions on ideal.