At its regular meeting Thursday, the Selma City School Board expressed concern about several issues.

One of those concerns was the high number of students who will not earn their diplomas in May – 52 out of 203 seniors did not pass the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.

School board members said they were not pleased with the results. They are also seeking explanations as to why so many of the students failed the exam.

The 52 seniors were comprised of 39 regular students and 13 special education students. School officials said it is the largest number they have known to

fail the graduation exam.

School board members should be concerned. So should members of the school administration and teachers, but most of all, parents.

When a meeting was held for the parents of those who did not pass the test, only eight attended.

While there are those who say it’s the school’s responsibility to educate the students, not the parents, that’s only partially true.

Each and every person on this planet begins their education at home. Parents are still the biggest influence in their childrens’ lives.

But parents are not solely to blame anymore than a single teacher or the school board can be held accountable. It is, in fact, the responsibility of all of these entities and the community to make sure our students receive the best education possible. And let’s not forget the students. They are also responsible for what they have learned (or not learned) during their four years of high school.