Sep 2010
Driven by her belief in the transformation that a good teacher can do to a child, Christine Ma founded JEMS Learning House, an English-speaking, after-school learning community that focuses on Character Education for children up to the age of 12. Through the unique curriculum that covers three key learning areas – starting with identity, and then onto relationships, and the community, children are inspired and trained to become “Junior Excellent Members of Society”.
When Christine was in Grade 1, her mother was asked to go to the school to see the teacher; however, what the teacher wanted to tell Mrs. Linda Ma was that Christine was a slow learner. “In all aspects – the teacher said.” Both Linda and Christine were laughing when they were telling us about this “memorable” experience which has significantly contributed to the passion, vision and mission of Christine today.
Christine’s father was later employed by a bank in the United Kingdom and the whole family had to relocate. Christine started her studies at a new school in England. On the first day of school, Christine’s teacher asked each student to write down 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses. Christine had no problems in writing down a list of her weaknesses, but for strengths, she had no clue. The teacher looked at her and said, “Christine, you can’t think of anything that you are good at? There are many things I’ve noticed that you are good at.” Christine could not forget the moment that the teacher thoroughly made a list of the strengths that Christine possessed but had never known about herself. Christine was enlightened. She became confident and made excellent progress in her studies. In fact, Christine has never failed to achieve good grades since then. She graduated from the London School of Economics with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Philosophy, which meant that she was ready to become a good banker, even a significant figure in the finance industry, like her father Mr. Frederick Ma; but Christine’s passion has always been in education.
Driven by her belief in the transformation that a good teacher can do to a child, she furthered her studies at the University of Pennsylvania and obtained a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Child Development. After teaching students aged 6 to 16 years in different educational institutions in Hong Kong, Christine decided that she would devote herself to the moral education of children and founded JEMS Learning House, an English-speaking, after-school learning community that focuses on Character Education for children up to the age of 12.
Christine believes that education should go beyond an acquisition of knowledge. Education should enable children to develop and fulfill their true potential, equip them with values and prepare them to be positive role-models in society. Character, morals and values prepare and assist children in making decisions in life. Christine explains, “Many may be very knowledgeable but it is their character that will determine how that knowledge is used. For example, knowledge in the sciences can be used to create medicine to heal or a drug to destroy.”
“JEMS” stands for “Junior Excellent Member of Society”. How can we train kids to become “JEMS”? The Character Education curriculum us