Reports suggest the unrest is fed by substandard schools, an undercurrent of racism, unemployment, failure to integrate immigrants, and rising social inequality.

Mr. Sharpton says he wants to focus the debate on concerns of the black community, such as police brutality and substandard public schools.

Riley knows all about substandard public schools.

This would create competition among schools for good students and would put political pressure on substandard schools to either improve or close down.

Both have expressed much greater impatience than their predecessors with the slow pace of improvement in substandard schools.

Kellett-Bowman) seems delighted to have children taught in substandard schools.

It is known for its high crime rate, substandard schools, lack of jobs, and numerous government built housing projects such as the N2 Gateway .

It also subjects the substandard schools to escalating sanctions if they do not improve.

And the court said it recognized the need to do something for "children trapped in substandard schools."

President Bush's spokesmen, however, showed a shallow grasp of the needs of families confronting substandard schools, unemployment and drug abuse.