A Bump in an Otherwise Smooth Day

I had a bit of an issue in my 103 class tonight. One of my students has the beginning signs of Tourette's (I think I spelled that right). She alerted me to her condition the first night of class. She has not yet been diagnosed, though. She has a loud hiccough and jerking movement about 4-5 times in our night class (NIU's band director pointed out the symptoms of Tourette's, but she is refusing to see a doctor).

I taught high school just long enough to get those eyes in the back of my head that all teachers supposedly have. I knew there was something going on in lab, today. I was working with students on one side, but I kept a close tab on what the situation was on the other side. Two students who were sitting across from Samantha were giggling and acting ridiculous every time she would hiccough. This went on for the last 1/2 hour of lab.

I behaved the same as always -- there is a lot of activity in lab and I try to get to everyone. I answered questions quite normally for the two students in question without letting on that I was getting really upset about the building situation.

As everyone let out of lab, I asked them both to stick around for a minute because I wanted to speak with them. I wrapped up a few stray questions and then went back to the students. I quietly told them that I knew what was going on back there and that I was incredibly displeased with their behavior. I reminded them that I shouldn't have to tell them this as it is a college classroom and that there is more to graduating from high school than marching in a cap and gown.

They both had the good grace to look ashamed. They muttered apologies to me and left (quickly). I took that moment to personally apologise to Samantha for not having handled it earlier. She told me she was okay and that she was getting used to dealing with it. I assured her that I would not let it go that far again. I did tell her that I think it's important that she and I work together to handle the problem, but that I completely respect her privacy and don't wish to push her into making a public deal out of a private situation.

It's not that this kind of juvenile behavior is new to me (I did, after all, teach in a special ed high school classroom). It's that it came as such a shock to me in a college classroom. I've either been incredibly fortunate or ridiculously unaware. I haven't even as a student seen college students behave this way. It was downright mean. Hearing Samantha raise her voice to tell them, "I can't help it. Please leave me alone," was disconcerting and I had to breathe deeply to control my temper (and I'm a redhead -- that wouldn't have been pretty -- more than that, though, I'm a teacher and I won't let them push me into behaving in a way I know is wrong).

Aaargh. I am still upset 3 hours later. Thank goodness my sister and I commute together on Wednesdays -- I was able to vent a lot on the way home to a fellow teacher.