Freedom, equality, choice, independence, opinions, rights, and the pursuit of happiness: these are all terms that are commonly associated with the idea of democracy. In order to take a stand on what exactly the purpose of education should be in a democratic society, one must first look at what it is that he or she values in a democracy. To me, the main values of democracy are equality, independence, and choice. Every person in our nation, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, should have equal opportunity and equal access to an education. No one should be denied an education because of a category or status that they may have been born into or have little control over.…