The Corridor of Shame runs parallel to I-95 through school districts in Jasper, Allendale, Hampton, and Orangeburg counties. This rural slice of SC has a hard time funding its government schools. Property values are low, industry is non-existent, tax revenues are declining, unemployment is climbing, students score poorly, and public apathy runs high.

Subtitled, The Neglect of South Carolina's Rural Schools , this movie tugs at the viewer's heartstrings while pleading the case of Abbeville County School District, et al v. The State of South Carolina, et al. By its very definition, Ferillo and the well-meaning and wealthy sponsors (Gayle O. Averyt, William Barnet III, Mary Rainey Belser, Kathy and Larry Bigham, Harry Butler Jr., Nancy Rainey Crowley, William Dufford, Becky and Earl Ellis, Harriett Faucette, Kirkman Finlay III, Elaine T. Freeman, Glen Hall, Hayne Hipp, Charlotte and Alan Kahn, Anne and John Rainey, Robert M. Rainey, Daniel M. Roach, Joel Smith, Don Tomlin Jr., William H. Theus, Charles S. Way Jr.) are saying inadequate education along the "corridor" is the responsibility of the State of SC and must be corrected.

John S. Rainey, the film's producer, gathered a cach of celebrities to scratch our guilt and garner our sympathy. Expressing their horror were Pat Conroy, Charles S.Way Jr., Mayor Joe Riley, Dr. Terry Peterson, Steve Morrison, US Senator Lindsey Graham, and Ed McMullen. The camera followed dedicated and caring school board members, superintendents, principals, and teachers as they complained about the poverty in which they work. Major complaints were great numbers of poor minority students; too many unsatisfactory schools; high dropout rates; and underpaid, unqualified teachers.

The movie presents only one side of the issue, no solutions. Sure, the major assumption is "More Money," but no means of getting the money is offered. Consolidation of small districts, merging of poor districts with rich districts, and other political solutions are not mentioned. None of Governor Sanford's approaches to the improvement of education are mentioned.

The underlying, though not explicitly mentioned, theme is equity funding. Are the sponsors of this film really pushing for a Robin Hood solution - take from the rich and give to the poor? Or a European Social Democrat solution - centralized taxation and centralized control? Neither of these solutions has ever worked for long because of bureaucratic stagnation and loss of individual initiative. I'm waiting for the next movie focused on success stories in SC schools called, Places of Pride .