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Gingrich said, “It is tragic what we do in the poorest neighborhoods, entrapping children in, first of all, in child laws, which are truly stupid.”

“Most of these schools ought to get rid of the unionized janitors, have one master janitor, and pay local students to take care of the school," he said. "The kids would actually do work, they would have cash, they’d have pride in the schools, they’d begin the process of rising."

Gingrich spoke at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, challenging laws that prevented children from working in certain jobs until their mid-teens, reported the Los Angeles Times. Gingrich also said that poor children needed to build a work ethic, something a job would teach them.

"Get any job that teaches you to show up on Monday," Gingrich said. "Get any job that teaches you to stay all day even if you’re having a fight with your girlfriend. I mean, the whole process of making work worthwhile is central."

Gingrich is currently leading the race for the GOP nomination, according to the latest CNN poll. Gingrich polled 24 percent, 4 percent more than Mitt Romney.

Reach associate news editor Hannah Madans here.