TEACHERS TOLD TO STAY HOME

Halifax art teacher Tim Taylor wants to talk about his drug bust, but has
been told not to. A tired-sounding Taylor, reached at home Tuesday, said it
would be "therapeutic," but would likely just cause more problems.

Taylor, 41 and his wife, Camilla Taylor, also 41, have been told to stay
home from their teaching jobs, after being charged with two counts each of
growing marijuana and possession of more than 30 grams. They're still being
paid.

The Halifax School Board asked both teachers to stay out of the classroom
after learning about the charges Friday. Board spokesman Doug Hadley says
this is standard procedure when a teacher is being investigated, regardless
of the issue.

"The litmus test," he said, is "how an incident affects the teacher's
ability to do his or her job, and if students are put at risk in any way."
Hadley said that, so far, the teachers are complying with the board's
wishes, and there's no reason to suspect that either schools or students
are involved.

The school board is carrying out its own investigation. Hadley said he
hasn' t had any calls from parents at either of the two schools -- George
P. Vanier, where Tim Taylor is employed, or Auburn High in Cole Harbour,
where Camilla Taylor works as a resource teacher.

Nova Scotia Teachers Union spokeswoman Angela Murray said the union isn't
involved unless there's a suspension.

The Taylors will be arraigned in court in Dartmouth on Oct. 16.

The charges occurred after RCMP were called to investigate a series of
thefts in the Lexington Avenue area of Fall River. While investigating the
thefts Sept. 10, a tracking dog located about a dozen mature marijuana
plants outside a residence not involved in that investigation.

A search warrant later turned up marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside
the home. Penalties, if the charges lead to conviction, range from a fine
to jail terms for possession.