When should the rule be broken?

We had some internal debate at work this week about the story in the Marlborough Express about Kate Lindstrom and Dagmar van Antwerpen who have been excluded from attending the Marlborough Colleges School Ball because they have left school. They both left school because of their health – Kate has lupus (form of arthritis) and Dagmar has chronic fatigue. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/71418365/Teens-desperate-to-go-to-the-ball I know how significant school balls were for all three of my offspring and how proud we were as parents to see you all dressed up

The former teacher in me says that the schools are within their rights to say only currently enrolled pupils should attend the ball. The Arthritis New Zealand heart says this is a bit tough – these girls want to be at school but can’t – let’s be compassionate. What do you think?