As students walked into Selma High School Monday morning for the first day of the new school year, they were greeted with high fives and cheers from members of the 100 Black Men of America Selma chapter. A group of seniors were also escorted to the school by Alabama State Troopers and officers with the Selma Police Department.

Support like that is exactly what children in our community need, and it is great to see the community showing an interest in children’s education. That enthusiasm shouldn’t just be on the first day of class though.

It should last throughout the year by community members and parents. Children are the future leaders of Selma, so the community should rally behind them and show even more support and show them how much they matter and how much the community cares about them.

Encouragement like Monday’s shows students that people really do care about them.