Experts say it is easy to pinpoint the hotspots of violence in the country; most of the drug gangs recruit and operate in severely deprived areas like Independencia, where jobs are scarce, schooling is tough, and social services are feeble.
Long before the advent of charters, the city began housing more than one school in buildings with available space — a common-sense way to maximize the use of scarce school space, given constantly shifting neighborhood enrollments that create both underutilized and overcrowded buildings.
Head teachers are already scarce; religious schools, especially Catholic ones, are suffering most, says John Howson, a recruitment specialist, and a looming retirement bulge will not help.
In the tribal belt, where wells are as scarce as schools, the religious leaders serve all the needs of the community.
Funds are scarce as schools only benefit from the fees collected by pupils' parents – who also have to contribute to the payment of the teachers' salaries.
De Blasio acted wisely in moving to end Bloomberg's gift of scarce New York City school resources to Moskowitz.
Educational materials and equipment are still scarce, and school enrolment is only at 66 per cent for boys and 60 per cent for girls.
Not only are athletic fields in this vertical city scarce, but public schools have to compete with private schools and adult teams that can pay higher users' fees.
Impoverished neighbourhoods should invest scarce resources in schools, housing and public health, not writing reports.
With no place to live, with health care scarce and with schools problematic, many have chosen to stay away.
