Chris, I am so sorry you were treated that way. Please don't back down. Sign up for the class you want to take - when you arrive you will find that the other students will enjoy learning right along with you.
I was sitting sewing at a local fabric shop one day a few months ago, when a gentleman came in wanting some quilting stencils. The owner of the shop was there along with another clerk, but they didn't seem interested in helping him. So, leave it to my mouth, I spoke up and told him he might find what he needs at Rob's Rulers and stencils on the internet. He was such a nice gentleman, I hated that the shop treated him as if he was joking with them instead of trying to help him.