I just got a really cool email from a "non-traditional" older woman who is a student who is taking my death and dying class.  Nice as it is in what she says about me and the class, though, in it she does point out that some younger women in the class are making fun of me behind my back in a way that is upsetting to her as an older and more serioous student.  Me, I either didn't notice the gigglers mocking me or I've ignored them because I'm just used to being made fun of by immature students who take a death and dying class that's over their heads emotionally anyway.  My older student, on the other hand, got so fed up with the gigglers that she left in the middle of class today.  Tonight I offered to let her move her seat in class closer to me up front.  I don't know how much more I can really do.  In any case, here's what my older student wrote me.  I don't think there's much I can do about the gigglers, but I'm open to your advice.  Here's what she wrote me tonight about class today:

"Hey, Professor, 

I'm sorry I left class early. I just couldn't take those 2 little  girls beside me anymore. I dont know if it was  anxiety or what but they were getting on my last nerve. Every time  you or anyone said anything they would look at each other and giggle. I hate that I let them get  to me like that. Ugh. They are the epitome of "high  school cliques" lol. And yes, I am definitely going to  fight on with this next book and do the best I can.  I'm actually excited to hear our guest speak about losing his daughter. I've known him and his wife for a long time.  Her dad was the pastor at the church I went to. I  remember when they lost their baby. It was so awful. His pictures of  her were absolutely beautiful. I'm also going to try as  hard as I can to come meet our textbook author when she visits campus. I'd love for her to sign my book!  Anyway, thanks so much for your prayers. They are  most definitely appreciated and you are in mine as well. See  you in class Friday! 

Signed,

(name withheld)"

That's what my non-traditional student just now wrote me about how the traditional students were bugging her in the death and dying class I taught today.  As I said, I offered to let her change seats and move up to the front of the classroom near me away from the back of the classroom where the gigglers are.  As for me, if they're not bothering me up at the front of a classroom, I figure the back row is where people who don't want to participate in school belong in a classroom and I just don't micromanage them.  Let me know what you think, ok?

Muji