St. Petersburg mathematicians disagree in the question whether it is possible to teach the best school pupils to do a sort of research in mathematics.

An account of the Feb. 12, 2001 special meeting of the Society and of the preceding discussion. Colleagues exchanged their views on how the mathematical community should face the menacing tendencies in science and education.

The controversial project of the Education Ministry to reform the school education system gave rise to violent discussion in the country and to an unprecedented activity among the members of the Society. The Mathematical Society at its Apr. 23 meeting approved a document calling the Ministry to give more care to the elaboration of the decrees and to carry out a broad discussion with the Academy of Sciences, university faculties, prominent teachers before the implementation of their plans.