The future of America's cities will remain dim until economic opportunities there are improved, members of an Education for Action-sponsored panel said yesterday.

In front of a Boylston Auditorium audience of about 40 people, the five-person panel discussed the topic of "The Future of Race and our Cities."

The panelists agreed that creating more and better opportunities for children in the inner cities must be a top priority.

"One of the only options available to [teenagers], because of the lack of jobs, is with the drug dealers," said Mary C. Waters, Loeb associate professor of the social sciences.

Attempts to improve the life chances of urban teenagers must focus on education, panel members said.

"I think education is the key right now," said Tracy D. Litthcut, the interim program manager of the Boston Streetworkers, an organization which aids troubled minority children in the inner city.

Professor of Education and Social Structure Nathan Glazer cited pilot programs in New York City which reduce the number of students in each school as possible models for inner cities throughout the country.

But Litthcut said the main problem with inner city schools is the effect of violence on the learning environment.

"Not many teachers took courses in 'GunTake-Away 101,"' he said.

The panelists differed as to the specifics ofhow problems within the inner cities should besolved.

Writer and activist Karin Aguilar-San Juan saidgovernment action is necessary.

"I believe it would be a mistake to sit backand say the government can't do anything and so weshould glamorize the Horatio Alger story," shesaid.

Bunyan I. Bryant, a faculty member at theUniversity of Michigan school of NaturalResources, also said the government should takeover from the private sector.

"How can we deal with these privateorganizations who are into public planning whereprofit is the bottom line?" he asked.

But Glazer said he was not as optimistic aboutthe role of the government.

"We're really checkmated on many of theseissues and to expect anything from the Clintonadministration is unrealistic. They don't have themoney or the ideas," he said. "I do not believe inlarge political intervention because I haven'tseen it work."

The panel was the final event in Education forAction's annual "Action Week.