Daily Herald editorial: Led by a Barrington mom, volunteers keep students safe and help a community heal
When something sad and traumatic happens, taking action can be an effective way to deal with grief and loss. That’s exactly what Roma Khan did after the Barrington community experienced a tragedy the morning of Jan. 25.
As Barrington High student Marin Lacson walked to school, she was hit and killed by a train as she crossed the tracks.
It was a horrific accident. But thank goodness for parents like Khan, who turned pain into purpose four days after the accident by creating the Barrington Student Safety Organization.
She and other volunteers, now more than 200 strong, stand guard at the train crossings making sure kids get to and from school safely so a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again. As parents ourselves, we imagine the Barrington community is breathing a sigh of relief knowing these helpful adults are watching out for their kids.
Sure, parents can tell their teen over and over again to look both ways, listen for a train and watch for signals. But parents also know that teens will be teens. They think they know better than us, they probably aren’t listening to us and they are going to do what they want once they walk out the door.
The victim blaming and parent shaming we’ve seen in some reader comments online is uncalled for and inexcusable. Nothing about it is helpful, and none of it will bring Marin back. Fortunately, it does not remotely represent the full measure of the community’s response.
What is helpful is exactly what Barrington community members — parents, police, village officials — are doing to keep kids safe crossing those tracks.
The village of Barrington is pledging to make safety improvements, but they will take time, possibly a year. Khan knew volunteer crossing guards could make a difference right away, and she’s receiving well-deserved praise for it.
“What an awesome way to take a problem into your own hands to find a solution and not just wait for the city to solve it. I applaud you, Roma Khan, and all the other volunteers who have joined you!” said one Facebook commenter.
We couldn’t agree more.
And parents everywhere understand. When a tragedy like this occurs, we can’t stop thinking, “what if?” What if my kid had been struck and killed? What if I had received that call from the police? We ruminate about it. The fear keeps us up at night. It makes us sick to our stomachs.
But fear can drive action. And taking action to help others can push grief and unfathomable thoughts aside, at least for the time being.
Thank you to Khan and her fellow volunteers for their determination, strength and leadership. You have eased parents’ minds and made the Barrington community safer in the end.