Educational freedom. This highly underrated concept is one of the foundational bases of American education. Though many people talk about freedom in education, few have any idea of what it actually means. Further, although most people in the U.S. would agree that everyone has a right to attend a college or university, few actually understand the significance of this.

Are you aware that in many other countries, officials determine whether students as young as fourteen should be eligible to participate in a college degree program? In many countries, teachers decide which high school a student should be able to attend. Only students who attend certain high schools are eligible to earn a high school program that enables them to earn a degree at a postsecondary institution.

Many countries do this for practical reasons. No one would argue that it limits an individual’s potential, however. Students who obtain these vocational or general certificates of education will never be eligible to attend college degree programs in their home countries.

In contrast, students in the United States are free to earn a college degree at home, through distance learning programs, or through the completion of a traditional degree program. Any student who graduates from high school or earns a GED can earn a bachelor degree, attend a graduate degree program, or even earn a PhD. Although the American educational system is far from perfect, the United States still remains the land of learning opportunities for all of its citizens.