Most Crimson Tide fans or alumni, like myself, love it when the Tide is ranked in the top 10 schools in the country, but being ranked No. 1 is the icing on the cake. There are other rankings that are not so good.

Alabama is ranked also No. 1 in the nation for funding cuts from education by the Republican Legislature. In spite of the adversity imposed on parents and teachers. A new survey shows that Alabama ranks No. 1 in the Southeast in reading scores, because of the dedication of teachers and parents.

Can you imagine what could be accomplished if we had a Legislature that supported our schools instead of one which has tried to kill community schools in favor of bringing in out-of-state corporate, for-profit schools to steal what little resources that the state does have? The Republican leadership has tried to bring charter schools to Alabama, which are inferior in every way, because their goal is to make profits off of taxpayers and to pad the pockets of their lobbyists.

Your children and grandchildren need and want better.

I wonder what could happen if we could draft Nick Saban to go to Montgomery and call in Trent Richardson and clear out the obstacles to good education in Alabama.

Larry Wayne Young

Central Heights