State Journal

Parents and teachers at Townsend (Del.) Elementary School were elated to have Gov. Thomas R. Carper on hand to celebrate the school's 65th birthday May 1.

But the celebration took an unpleasant turn, according to Townsend PTA President Kim Rice, when Mr. Carper admonished some boisterous students.

Ms. Rice said the school's 430 pupils "were very excited to have such a special visitor" and were a bit wound up. But Mr. Carper's attitude was "intimidating to the students," she said, and when they did not immediately quiet down, he yelled "shut up" three times. "He told them they were the worst group of children he had...