Unrealistic expectations?

When my parents were here recently we brought them to the kids' school for an evening social event. People were sitting in the gym, talking and having a snack, so we came in and joined them.

At one end of the gym a group of very noisy and rambunctious little boys were playing, running, throwing bean bags or something like them, and generally making a racket. A HUGE racket. Like, we can barely carry on a conversation because of the noise kind of racket.

I asked a couple of them, gently and kindly, if they could maybe settle down and play a little more quietly because people were talking. They agreed and immediately ran back and recommenced with the hijinks.

Once the parents (who up to this point were mixed amongst the crowd and unidentifiable) finished their snacks, they (4 of them) wandered over to near where their kids were raising hell. There they stood, for more than half an hour, looking vastly amused at the havoc their children were creating. "Awww, isn't that cute? Little Jimmy just about hit that grandmotherly woman in the head with his flying projectile! Someday that kid's gonna be a great quarterback!"

I know they were there for more than half an hour because, while my family (including my horrified and completely annoyed parents) went outside (where, may I point out, outside voices are allowed, nay, encouraged, to be used), I stayed inside, waiting for the principal to get done talking to another set of parents.

When I finally had the chance, I explained that while we are happy with the school, the impression we had given my parents that evening was not what I would have liked. That kids can be made to understand that some behaviors are okay in the gym during gym class, but not at other times (like when the gym is serving as a social venue or a cafeteria). That even very small children can understand this. That setting limits can, in fact, be a good thing. That teaching children to be courteous to others will not damage their delicate psyches. That encouraging active parenting by saying, "Hey, since you are done eating, would you mind taking your kids out the playground, since the weather is gorgeous, it's still light out, and they can run and scream all they'd like out there?" is not out of line. That it was going to be difficult to convince my parents that their grandchildren attend anything other than a glorified zoo.

Not only did the principal pooh-pooh my comments, making excuses for both the parents and their ill-bred little buffoons, but another parent came up to me and when I mentioned my issue to her, she quickly volunteered to bring her bullwhip next time to whip those kids into shape. Bitch.

So. I am asking you: do I have unrealistic expectations? Is it too much to ask kindergarten age boys to behave like humans? Is it too much to ask that parents act like parents, not like teenagers who are amused at the antics of their younger siblings? How should I have handled it?