Well here in Colorado they leave it up to the individual departments. I have'nt heard of anyone pissing hot and keeping their jobs. Even if you have a medical card its still looked down upon.
The best way is to call around and give your resume. A lot of places dont need to post ads online because of this. As far as pay, for a basic it wont stretch much beyond minimum wage.
Other than the CE credits, continuous eduction in a field where there is abundant red tape and a ever evolving treatment plan is almost necessary to keep you on your toes.
Dont skip lab days and dont worry about buying an expensive steth for class. I took a small sound recorder and recorded important lecture topics for me to listen to later. Helped me with studying for my NREMT exam.
Are they affecting your learning? Are they being a hinderance on you? You do whatever YOU have to to pass the class and dont worry about the other students in the class as well. Maybe they are going through something rough at home, maybe they are second guessing their choice in classes. You dont...