“What do you tell the kids about dealing with authority figures who overstep their authority?”
I told my children, “Choose your battles wisely.” “Always learn the motivations of your opponent and also their prospective enemies. It is far better to rattle the hornets nest next to a person and walk away than to do direct battle with them. If they have an enemy bigger than you, wake that enemy up and consider becoming friends with that enemy.”
Thus when the high school teacher wrongly persecuted my son, my son became student representative on the school board and the teacher immediately changed his demeanor toward my son.
Rule number 2. Always accuse them of breaking their own rules and being hypocrites.
“I’ll comply with your directive because in this moment you have authority over me. However, I will be discussing this issue with my parents, and you will be discussing it with them soon, as well as possibly with their lawyer. Have a nice day.”