What I want to know is why are those absences unexcused to begin with!?

OK page won't load but I'm guessing it's this: schools allow x number of "unexcused absences". This student exceeded that # and the school

doesn't consider circumstances...welcome to public gover't run anything. That means student didn't meet minimum required days at school

ergo was not properly educated, ergo does not graduate. Sound about right?

The law doesn't leave room for common sense or actual humanity. That has to be legislated in.

again, guessing at the article as I can't read, won't load

the mom may have been too sick to call in. The article didn't explain that. If she wasn't too sick then she is at fault, not the admin.

but they should take his situation into consideration.... maybe overturn some of the unexcused absences rather than overturn a rule.

AdoroTeDevote: You nailed it.

FairAngel: OK, thanks. Would still like to read the article for proper context over the typical "I guessed it" stuff. sigh

hasn't much hope for society in light of where common sense has been buried

He's only two unexcused absences over the limit. This would have been very easily and very quietly taken care of by a smarter principal.

Or one who hadn't had the compassion beaten out of him/her by the constant drag of the job.

Wow, that's just insane!