I’m sure he was talking about 17-18yo HS students.
This is just a Janitors for Justice hit piece.
If so then why was he talking about child labor laws being stupid? Those wouldn't apply to 17 or 18 year olds. No, I suspect Newt truly visualized third and fourth and fifth graders spending their nights mopping halls and emptying trash. After their nightly bowl of gruel, of course.