Getting Rid of Child Labor Laws?!?!

So would they then be tax payers as well?? What about the janitors jobs? It must be amazing to live inside his brain. Everyone knows the only exception to child labor laws are child celebrities. But I would have to know exactly his quote and in what context to form an actual opinion.

... and when would the children be actually studying and doing in class work and cleaning their campus at the same time?
After school?
And who supervises them? Oh, you'd have to hire staff to supervise them, or still keep on and pay for the existing Janitors to supervise the kids....and 'pay' the kid laborers, too.
Yah.
Genius.
And only in 'poor' areas, they'd use child labor? HOW would he decide which 'poor' schools utilize child labor... by color? Race? How?
How is that... so smart?
WTH.

My post would be pulled if I wrote what I really think of this clown and his ideas.

Newt, a man of ideas, all of them absurd.

"We should let them start climbing the ladder as soon as possible". Yeah, climbing a ladder to change a light bulb so that when they fall and bust their head open, that they can go to the ER and find out that since they have no insurance, they can just go bleed some where else.

That's what I think of this.

By the way, why can't the rich kids in the rich school districts be the janitors? Oh, that's right - they won't have time, what with all the sports they're playing.

Smart aleck, I know. But I'm SO not surprised by Gingrich saying something like this. After all, he had to work his way up the ladder after being the Speaker of the House by being a lobbyist and consultant for Freddie Mac, making the paltry sum of ($1.8 million paycheck) and the real eye-popping sum of $37 million from the healthcare companies, if I remember what I was reading correctly.

Frankly, I'm surprised he cares if the schools in the poor areas even have janitors.

Dawn

In what way? I wanted to work at a young age - I knew the value of a dollar and what hard work and struggle will get you. So is he saying for force 5 year olds to work, or to allow teenagers who WANT to work to be ALLOWED to work?

Do we really want to hold people back? Doesn't this go back to some of the other liberal questions from earlier? We want to continue to give to the poor...screw the rich.

I had to jump through HOOPS to be able to work at McDonalds at 14. It was ridiculous. IF he is just making it easier for those who are capable to make a buck, then I see no problem.

If what he is proposing is to force 5 year olds to work in sweat shops then it's a different story - and I doubt that is what he is saying.

I wish some people on here would open their eyes and ears and at least be willing to listen to other news sources and other opinions before they JUMP to the fact and say if you are conservative you are an idiot. Trust me, it's hard to not do that from my side too!

Newt is an idiot...end of story.

That guy is as dumb as Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman and Bush! That is exactly the opposite of what they are trying to get away from in 3rd world countries, and this idiot wants to follow in their footsteps!!! INSANE!

On another note, at my kids school, they are all assigned to cafeteria duty for each class after eating lunch. Some are responsible for spraying and wiping down the tables others have to take out the full bags of food waste and also the paper waste (paper waste....now there's another topic that angers me with schools claiming they have too small of a budget) I was appalled when I went to have lunch with my 1st grader and saw kids doing this instead of the staff, but the ones I talked to at the table claim it's fun and they enjoy it. Still irks me.

I just saw this on the internet.

I had my very first job at 12 and was never without a job all through high school. It definitely gave me a great work ethic.

I think it would be fabulous for kids if they could start doing some of the jobs of yore again, like delivering papers, mowing lawns, babysitting, etc.

That said, this particular idea is moronic. Have kids work as janitors in their own school if they're poor? These kids would be so teased and tortured by their classmates, it makes me cringe to even think about it. I remember the work-study kids who had to work in the cafeteria at college (I was very nearly one of them - a connection happened to get me a job in the library instead. Lucky, lucky). Those kids were so embarrassed and this was COLLEGE.

My jaw would drop to the floor if any of these wealthy, 1 million-plus-annual salary senators or congressmen/women would ever even dream of having THEIR precious son or daughter work as a janitor in their own school. No, no, only the best Washington DC or state capitol internships for junior.

There is a private school near us that requires their students from 12-14 years old to serve in a working trade internship - working on a farm, in a cheese-making company, in a store, for a newspaper, in a landscaping business, etc. The kids do their studies and also complete their internships. I would love to send my son there, but it's just too expensive.

Pie in the sky, but it would be lovely if something like this could be set up for disadvantaged children as well.

Well, then, I hope my son's insurance will cover Black Lung. Remember why we have these laws, Newt?

He's an idiot. Now, I could see giving written permission for some types of work to be available for kids to do if they wanted to - safe stuff, with parental permission. THAT would be cool, but getting rid of Child labor laws is stupid. We barely have enough jobs for adults, and now he wants cheap labor for children? Nice job, Newt!

Newt Gingrich is a a;sldkfjapoweijfa;lejf;asldjf;alskdjf;aosiejf;alskdjf;aosiejf;alkjef;aoijergf;aoehrj
g;aoeijrgf;LSKJDF;ASLKJDF;ALSKJF;AOIJF;AOIERJGFA;LKRGJF;oweij.

So, it doesn't surprise me that he would say that.

I can't even process something that stupid and formulate a response or my head will explode.

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ETA
Ok so curiosity got the best of me and I had to read his actual quote. I HAVE to believe that he means older kids who want to work to earn money, but he doesn't specify what age bracket, or go into. He also doesn't talk about pay, protection etc and he sites Japan as an example of students and teachers working together to maintain their environment.
His comment was in response to an Harvard undergrad's question about economic inequalities in failing schools while he was giving a lecture. His response is that if you look at economically successful entrepreneurs all started making money at an early age and learned economic lessons first hand; paper route, car-washing, lawn mowing, babysitting etc.
I would say that in theory we had a program in my high school where the business *elective* class ran the "snack shack" before and after school. They learned ordering, money handling, scheduling etc. to work in all different aspects of the business. It was totally student run, with the exception of the teacher advisor. Not a bad idea - to give them a real life shot at business.
QUITE different than having students clean toilets in the same school they attend with their friends. He also doesn't discuss what age he believes this would be a good idea - except that in the aforementioned example he said kids benefit when they have their first job between 9-14... so I would assume middle school-ish?

It's just like him to take a concept and try to apply it to something out of context that ends up being ridiculous.

uuuuugggggggh.

Yep, they are trying to roll back every law, every program that ever helped establish the middle class.
We are headed back to the Dark Ages.

I think it's less likely schools would be cleaned (although school maintenance day is something all the kids participate in in Japan) and more likely we'd have exploited child workers like they have in India and Asia (or we would if we had any factories left).
I'm fairly sure Newt's not planning on paying the kids like a janitor gets paid so how is eliminating a job for adults going to help?
Way to create jobs, Newt!

Well, I guess we can say that at least he hasn't suggested dumping the entire department of education (a great family value there). But I assume he's talking about kids under 14, as kids over 14 can already work. And he obviously isn't concerned about any sort of safety or toxic chemical issue, because otherwise janitorial work wouldn't be restricted now. So, he must mean, "Kids under 14 years old, dealing with toxic chemicals and potentially hazardous situations." Go Newt! You step up for those family values!

Oh, and while we're at it, let's let them work in other places! Remember those little fingers and bodies can fit where bigger bodies can't! And let's eliminate those restrictions on hours worked, because hey, poor kids don't do schoolwork anyway! What kills me is the hypocrisy.

Sorry, I try to avoid the political posts, on either side, but argh!!!! I wouldn't believe it, but I'm starting to believe anything. Does it sometimes feel like there are two separate realities in this country? I was considering (in the least agressive way possible) asking that question. I just feel like a whole bunch of people have become unmoored from what Bush/Cheney called "the reality based paradigm" (which they claimed that the could just ignore - guess they were right).

EDIT: I went out and viewed the video. In his own words child labor laws are "truly stupid." This isn't a "quote out of context" kind of thing. It is much more crazy sounding in context. Go view it. wow. And yup, the janitor thing is just one option. Not sure why he's bothering with kids, when we have an entire slave labor population in the prisons, used by most major corporation for pennies an hour... go look that one up...
Sorry, veering... but again... family values - just take em out of those failing schools, and put em in the factories! Any job that teaches em to show up on time, and work no matter what! (go watch the video if you think I'm exaggerating)

One more reason not to vote for Newt. :)
L.

Um pardon my french and pure plain English...but what the hell?

That is taking a giant step backwards.

Would making kids perform Janitor work teach them a skill, you betcha. But I think we would want ALL of children to strive for a better future.

Would it ever actually happen......Only in an insane person's day dream.

I have not read anything on this, but I am going to do my research as soon as I am done typing.

Sometimes I think that the GOP contenders TRY and say some of the craziest things....Or do the craziest things...Just to say or do them.

Speechless does not really render the right feeling I am having over this. I am left Speechless....but man it would be a cold day in hell if it actually was allowed to happen.

I think it is one thing to have kids working in the Cafeteria, it is completely another thing to put the WHOLE responsibility solely on the kids. As a means to cut cost. It would do nothing but demean the children in poor area's.

It's ridiculous and he's ridiculous.

I don't blame Newt for trying, and heck, I guess anyone with even a remote chance would be crazy NOT to go for the nomination, considering the (lack of) competition, but he'll never be elected.
He's got lots of dough and lots of contacts. It's just not going to be enough.
The "twice-divorced" aspect of Newt will never fly with the evangelicals.
Too polarizing and too much baggage. Those types of candidates never win.

I'm ALL for this. When I was a girl, some kids were allowed to work in the cafeteria. They started as early as 3rd grade. It was an honor. I worked in bean feilds and my brother worked in corn fields. There is NOTHING wrong with hard work and it would help kids to learn responsibility from a young age.

My 3rd daughter started at McDonald's at 15. She was so good at what she did, she put out a grease fire while the older managers stood around screaming. They made her a shift manager the day she turned 16. Now my 4th daughter wants to follow in her older sisters foot steps...they all started out in the restaurants... I emailed the manager at our local Micky D's, and they have changed the age to 16. She's so bummed!

I hadn't heard anything about this. I personally do not like the man and disagree with many of his opinions. I did a little research. Your post makes it sound like he is proposing some type of law, when alll he did was make a statement. We have the choice to agree or disagree with the statement.

In no way do I think that we should get rid of child labor laws. I also don't think we should take away jobs, or put children in an unsafe situation. However, I beleive part of the point he is trying to make is that if children who are stuck in bad schools in poor neighbors had the responsiblility of cleaning their schools they would then have pride in their schools etc.

Newt Gingrich isn't exactly known for being brilliant or a great humanitarian. There's no possible way this would ever happen because there aren't any positive arguments for it. I can't even work up enough shock or outrage by this supposed "initiative" attributed to Gingrich to be disgusted by him any more.

EDIT: This isn't just about child labor laws. It's about good old Gingrich showing how much he values janitors and the work they do. It's not an easy job. It's hard labor and it actually involves harsh chemicals. Not to mention he insulted labor unions to boot during his little faux pas of a suggestion for a way to promote children to work and make money and save the schools some money. He makes no mention of what would happen to the janitors that he would easily dismiss and replace with children.

He's an idiot. He clearly didn't think things through to their logical conclusion. This isn't a matter of politics, but intelligence. He's a whackadoodle.

OMG! I hadn't heard this! Just like with so many things, it may start out with good intentions, but it won't take long for people to start abusing it! Why doesn't he just pay school children to wash his car or mow his lawn.

Well, hmmm, a case for… schools would save money. Not big bucks, maybe, but they could fire parents making 12-15 bucks an hour and pay their kids minimum wage to do the same work.

I actually wish it was easier for kids to get paying jobs. I picked berries every summer from my freshman year – the fields were full of high school kids working toward their college educations or their first cars. And times are really tough now for lots of families, so kids being able to bring in some income might be a good thing. But not if it puts more adults out of work.