INTEGRATION IN THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS SMOOTH AND ALMOST WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY ITSELF HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A PROCESS OF DEMOCRATIZATION OVER A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT DECISION. EXAMPLES SHOW INTEGRATION OF CHURCHES, DESEGREGATION OF THE ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY, AND DESEGREGATION OF HOTELS AND THEATRES. PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY INTEGRATED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL DUTIES AND THE OPERATION OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. A THIRD FACTOR WAS THE CITY-WIDE HUMAN RELATIONS PROGRAM CONDUCTED ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS AND UNDER EXPERT LEADERSHIP. THE PLAN FOR INTEGRATION THAT THE ST. LOUIS SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTED PROVIDED FOR INTEGRATION OF COLLEGES AND OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER 1954. ALL HIGH SCHOOLS UNDER THE BOARD'S CONTROL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM, WERE INTEGRATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND SEMESTER, JANUARY 31, 1955. INTEGRATION OF TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND OF REGULAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 1955. THE PLAN FURTHER STIPULATED THAT TENURE RIGHTS OF CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES WOULD BE PRESERVED, THAT, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, EMPLOYEES WOULD RETAIN THEIR PRESENT ASSIGNMENTS, THAT WHEN VACANCIES OCCURRED EMPLOYEES WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO FILL THEM ON THE BASIS OF COMPETENCE, AND THAT TEACHERS WOULD BE APPOINTED FROM A SINGLE RATED LIST ON THE BASIS OF EXAMINATION SCORES.