If academic and attendance standards were truly not met, how we we hold that against the school? I think we can all sympathize with the girl's plight, and it was probably no fault on her part for missing so much time, but we cannot expect the school to relax their standards either.
Maintaining high standards and not caving into emotional or political pressures is respected in my book. I've never been an advocate of the "everybody gets a trophy" mentality.
But first, let's wait for the whole story.
Sam, everyone has a most valid point on academic standards. I went to Catholic college prep HS. High standards and they booted 30 students first year for not meeting academic standards. We did have a fellow student with cancer and his treatments seemed to last three of the 4 years there. Sometimes he showed up sometimes he didn’t. Did not understand why he missed so many days at school until my son was diagnosed with leukemia and we went through the school issues.
If I were to advise this school, based on the evidence given in the article (not much), I would advise allowing a few weeks after school is out for the child to meet the standards. If not met, summer school or repeat the year. The attendance issue is plain stupid as the school should have some knowledge of what a kid with leukemia goes through. Chemo for my son was 3.5 years! The first 1.5 of those years he was always sick or a high risk for infection. Thank God we had great support with his school and teachers.
Oh yes, he did great in his studies. Wife and I made sure:)