13 February,2012 10:00 AM IST | | ANI
An Australian teacher is facing investigation by the Department of Education for filming an online pornographic movie with a former student and selling sex herbs and legal "smoking alternatives" in the city's main street.
The man from Geelong and his 23-year-old former student, who is now his live-in girlfriend, opened a shop called Happy High Herbs three weeks ago, with a brochure promoting "horny herbs" and "smoke for relaxation".
The Oberon High School teacher made the revelation on the scandal that threatens his career to the Herald Sun and said he was on the brink of walking away from the profession. "I should be in a position to talk about any decision early next week," he said. He didn't say much about the porn video that led to him standing down from School until a Department of Education probe is complete, but he said the past two weeks since the video came to light had been "a difficult time."
Premier Ted Baillieu, whose government last year outlawed Kronic, a herbal product marketed at the time as a legal form of marijuana, expressed surprise when told about the nature of the teacher's business. While he said he was unaware of the shop, he said if it was selling products promoted as sexual stimulants or legal highs, it should also be part of the Department's investigation into the teacher.
"There is an inquiry underway and if there are any other matters, then information about those matters can be provided to that inquiry," Baillieu said. "It is important for teachers to retain the respect of the school community," he added. The teacher said he had been preparing to cop flak over his business ever since news of the porn scandal broke.
"It's not about getting high, it's about health, a holistic, herbal approach to health. We're totally against illegal drugs," he said. After the scandal went public on February 1, Oberon principal Alison Murphy said the man was a successful VCE teacher who was "well-regarded by the school community".
