Gingrich (Tony Gutierrez/AP)Not only will Americans gain Newt Gingrich as commander-in-chief if he's elected president--they'll also have the opportunity to sit in on a free class taught by the former House speaker.
Gingrich pledged Monday to join the growing trend of online universities and personally teach a free online course à la University of Phoenix.
"I think I will probably teach a course when I'm president," Gingrich told an audience of students and supporters following a speech at New Hampshire's St. Anselm College, according to media outlets on the scene. "I will probably try to do something that outlines for the whole country what we're going to try to accomplish," he reportedly told them. "It will be free."
CNN reports that Gingrich, who taught history and geography at West Georgia College in the 70s, explained that the course would be offered "through the University of Phoenix or Kaplan."
Though it's been years since Gingrich appeared in the classroom, he is fond of using any and all public appearances as teaching moments--speaking as a historian about Congress, American history and the legislative process.
With Gingrich's recent rise in the polls, his statements have come under greater scrutiny.
He used his appearance at St. Anselm Monday to reiterate comments he made Friday about laws restricting child labor.
During a speech at Harvard University Friday, Gingrich called child labor laws "truly stupid" in poor areas for restricting young children from working. He suggested schools help these underprivileged children by putting them to work as janitors. Schools should 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."
On Monday, Gingrich continued touting that plan during his speech at St. Anselm, the Washington Post reports. At St. Anselm, the former House Speaker explained that child janitors would be more cost-effective than unionized workers. The Post writes that Gingrich said he "is not advocating revamping child labor laws, he simply wants to empower young people with a work ethic they need to succeed."
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