Revisiting the Flowing Wells “Witch Trial” of 1971

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In 1970, Tucson’s Flowing Wells School District was the focus of some not-so-welcome national attention. It was reported that one of the district’s tenured teachers disregarded the established curriculum, in favor teaching a course in witchcraft. The teacher’s job and reputation were literally at stake. The Flowing Wells “Witch Trial” concluded with a guilty verdict, and the teacher faced being burned at the stake. Well, she wasn’t literally burned at the stake, she was just fired. However, this is Tucson. The story can’t be that simple, and like many Tucson tales, it does contain an unusual twist.

The teacher’s name was Ann Stewart. Stewart taught English for 11 years in the Flowing Wells School District. When the allegations of teaching witchcraft arose against Mrs. Stewart, she stated that she only said that her physical characteristics were witch-like. Stewart’s students gave a differing account. One student, in particular, said that Mrs. Stewart did educate students about witchcraft, but she “did not try to influence or convince students of the reality of witchcraft.”
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