Unfortunately, this incident is all too typical of the harassment and humiliation young people endure at the hands of adults in positions of authority.

    When it comes to enforcing the law, government officials do not hide the fact that they treat young people different from government-defined adults. "Minors," as the government refers to individuals who have lived fewer than 18 years, are forbidden by law from smoking, drinking, and signing contracts, among many other things.

    As for eating french fries in subway stations, it turns out that in its crackdown, the police specifically targeted a station frequented by young people. While police slapped handcuffs on the snacking kids, they let adult offenders off with citations.

    But the girl's ordeal was far from over. Arrogant school administrators extended their authority over her life well past the school day and well beyond school property by threatening disciplinary action. (Could you imagine an employer punishing an employee for violating the No Food policy of a subway system?)

    As long as compulsory public schooling exists, the power of school administrators must be restrained. It's bad enough that students are treated like prisoners at school. But school administration has no right to extend its oppressive hand into what remains of students' personal lives.