School's Out Forever

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explainer School's Out Forever If you live on the equator, when does summer vacation end? By Forrest Wickman Updated Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, at 3:55 PM ET Trapper Keepers and protractors are flying off the shelves this week, as the end of the summer sends children dragging their feet back to school. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer hasn't even begun, though, and in many tropical climates it never really ends. Do children in equatorial climates have to go to school year-round? No. Schools in tropical climates, as in most countries, generally close for a two- to three-month vacation closely resembling the U.S. summer break. The timing of this break varies widely, however, and depends as much on the vestiges of colonialism and the demand for farm workers as on the climate. In some countries, like Barbados, the educational system still operates on the basis of traditions installed by European powers. In others, summer breaks are timed to coincide with whenever children are most needed to toil in the fields. Religious holidays can also affect the timing of vacations, but not as much as the lingering influence of the colonial period and the need for cheap labor. To continue reading, click here. Forrest Wickman is a Slate editorial assistant. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate What's Al-Qaida Been Up To Since 9/11, Anyway? Rosenbaum: If You Want To Understand Our Economic Moment, You've Got To Read BUtterfield 8 What I Learned by Following the Bible's Advice for Menstruating Women--to the Letter	Advertisement
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