No Wonder They Fail

Student 1 "had" to go to leave the country to attend his aunt's wedding. He "had" to be gone for two weeks. He knew he was missing an exam.  He did not bring his book along or even think about school the time he was gone.  He's back now, lost.

Student 2 left the country to go to his grandfather's funeral.  He was gone a week and a half and missed an exam.  He didn't bring the text along and is now back and lost.

Is it me, or is it them?  The kids I know outside of this college did not miss school for anything.  My son missed his aunt's wedding because he had a three hour class.  A friend's daughter missed her grandmother's funeral because of a 5-hour grad class.