BERMUDA'S widespread obsession with materialism is limiting the development of children who should be expanding their minds instead of being preoccupied with money and possessions.

That is the view of Riquette Bonne-Smith, an educator whose work includes stretching the minds of some of the country's most gifted young students.

Mrs. Bonne-Smith is the founder and executive director of both the Institute for Talented Students (ITS) and the Bermuda International Language and Arts Institute (BILI), two non-profit organisations.

She has a passion for education that is immediately apparent and considers herself to be "in the business of imparting information".

Among the exceptionally hungry minds her organisations nurture are those of teenagers learning pre-calculus and 12 year olds learning algebra.

She believed there were many academically gifted people in Bermuda, but that the overbearing emphasis on making money was not helping youngsters become well educated and well rounded individuals.

"For children to be thinking about saving money to buy expensive things is the wrong focus, I believe," Mrs Bonne-Smith said.

"For example, for kids to leave school in the afternoon and pack groceries for money is not a good thing, in my opinion as an educator.

"I know some people will not agree with me. They might say children can save the money to pay for school later on. But even then, I think it would be better for parents to take out a loan and let their children expand their minds when they are young."

Mrs. Bonne-Smith is the mother of two boys, aged 14 and 15, both of whom have expressed an interest in packing groceries to make some money. She has refused them permission to do it.

"I tell them I will provide them with the few things they need," Mrs. Bonne-Smith said.

"Right now the boys have a full after-hours schedule, including extra classes and that is empowering them.

"The obsession with materialism in Bermuda is depriving people of spirituality and personal development.

"Kids want expensive shoes and cell phones and gadgets that aren't necessary. There is great peer pressure. I say to my sons, 'No, you can't have those things even if so-and-so has them'."

Strong nations had strong education systems that concentrated on preparing young people for whatever they wanted to do, Mrs. Bonne-Smith added.

And Bermuda had the attributes to develop a "model society" that could be achieved if there were more emphasis on learning and less on money.

Such beliefs were what inspired Mrs. Bonne-Smith to set up BILI in 1997, after she spent 12 years as a lecturer at Bermuda College.

SHE grew up on the French-speaking Caribbean island of Martinique, and holds a BA in English Literature as well as a master's degree in French Language and Literature. She has also lived in Jamaica and California.

Although she founded BILI as a business, in 1999 she changed its status to a charity. And she expanded her educational business after an inspirational visit to the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Talented Youth in 2001.

It was then that, recognising the need for an organisation to develop the island's most talented children by stretching them beyond their school studies, Mrs. Bonne-Smith set up the Institute for Talented Students.

The XL Capital Foundation lent its support in June 2002 and further financial backing came from a philanthropic society which donated anonymously.

ITS opened its doors in January 2003, with 85 students with diverse backgrounds from both public and private schools.

Now ITS offers after-school programmes in mathematics, English, art (in association with the Masterworks Foundation), geopolitics and marine science (in association with the Bermuda Biological Research Station). There are 124 students aged between ten and 16 enrolled.

There are two tiers of programmes, one for students with an SAT of 500 or higher and an enrichment programme for those averaging 400-plus.

Last year, ITS sent the five children who achieved the best academic results to attend summer classes at Johns Hopkins, something the Institute hopes to repeat.

Mrs. Bonne-Smith, who is based at Terceira House in Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, believes the relationship between the schools and ITS is symbiotic.

"I don't see ITS being in competition with the schools at all," Mrs. Bonne-Smith said. "The schools cater to everyone. Not everyone is going to be a doctor or a scientist.

"Some kids are not stretched in the system as much as they could be. Those kids can really excel if you stretch them. It can give them an edge."

ELEVEN teachers work part-time with the ITS, while six teachers are involved with BILI, the language and music side of Mrs. Bonne-Smith's registered charity non-profit business.

"We offer language and music courses to children and adults," said Mrs. Bonne-Smith. "We teach French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and German.

"Bermuda is an international island and business centre and kids can gain a great advantage by learning languages. We also offer a service to the business community. Several organisations have come to us to give their members classes, particularly in French, Spanish and German."

The Institute has expanded more recently into music, offering piano and cello tuition at a high standard.

Mrs. Bonne-Smith herself speaks Spanish as well as French and English, a little Italian and some Portuguese. Although she does not play any musical instruments, she has a passion for music.

BILI has some 220 young and adult students. "We have an excellent team of teachers and I have an excellent assistant in Richard Webber, who shares my beliefs," Mrs. Bonne-Smith said.

"We also have some very good sponsors, whose support has made it possible to achieve what we have.

"I am committed to Bermuda education and I wanted to do something that would make a real difference in an area where the country did not provide."

MRS. Bonne-Smith has been invited to talk about the ITS programme in front of an international audience at the European Council for High Achievers. The conference will take place in Pamplona, Spain, in September.

ITS sponsors include XL Capital, Renaissance Re, Ace Insurance Foundation, Bank of Bermuda, Bank of Butterfield, Allied World Assurance, FACT, Max Re, KPMG, Milligan Whyte and Smith, Fidelity, Human Foundation, Swiss Re, Sir John Swan, Mr. and Mrs. Brutsch and the Ministry of Education.

Anyone interested in knowing more about BILI or ITS can call Mrs. Bonne-Smith on 296-5676.