Simon Bird is the director of education of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. (Simon Bird/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

job security

LLRIB Director of Education apologizes for now-deleted Facebook post

Mar 24, 2020 | 5:00 PM

“Any teacher not preparing to teach online and creating digital tools is basically resigning.”

That’s how Lac La Ronge Indian Band Director of Education Simon Bird started a recently deleted Facebook post published on his personal page, which created a stir online since Monday. In the same post he wrote any teacher who has refused to adapt to technology will be the first ones to be overlooked for jobs, as there are major changes coming to most industries and professions.

“Any person who currently has a job will be seen as one of the lucky ones,” Bird wrote. “But, there will be huge competition for those essential skills. Work hard and work diligently.”

He also warned major changes are coming and teachers need to assess what they have to offer in the essential skills market. Bird recommended repurposing or upgrading skills.

“A title [sic] wave of unemployment is coming,” is how he finished the post.

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The post was subsequently screenshot and shared on social media dozens of times. Commenters are mostly expressing shock about what the administrator wrote. Bird is the director of education for four LLRIB schools including Bell’s Point Elementary School, Chief Moses Ratt School, Sally Ross School and Senator Myles Venne School.

Simon Bird wrote this post on his personal Facebook page before deleting it. (Facebook)

In an interview with larongeNOW, Bird apologized if his Facebook post caused any anxiety or misinformation amongst students, staff or families. He said it was not his intention to cause any alarm and it was likely taken out of context due to the lack of information.

“My Facebook page is basically we need to step up and help each other out,” Bird said. “For those of us who are able to work from home, to start learning about the technology that allows us to reach out to the students we have and also to the families that are out there.”

Bird also mentioned the post is in no way reflective of the LLRIB education department. Since it was announced classes would be dismissed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said discussions have been underway about how serious it is, adding curriculum took a backseat to mental health of students and staff.

“I can see how the information was too open-ended and for that it’s not a plan to speak anything vague,” Bird said. “We have to be very focused with our messaging and keep it positive.”

larongeNOW reached out to LLRIB Executive Director Gladys Christensen and former Coun. Sam Roberts about the Facebook post, but they were unavailable for comment.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno