BUSINESSMEN IN NEW ORLEANS CITED POOR SPEECH AMONG NEGRO APPLICANTS FOR SECRETARIAL AND STENOGRAPHIC POSITIONS AS THE MAJOR REASON FOR NOT HIRING THEM. AS A RESULT, ST. MARY'S DOMINICAN COLLEGE EMBARKED ON AN 8-MONTH PROGRAM IN 1965 TO TEACH STANDARD SPEECH TO 90 YOUNG WOMEN, 75 OF WHOM WERE NEGRO. STANDARD SPEECH WAS TAUGHT AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. EXTENSIVE USE WAS MADE OF THE LANGUAGE LABORATORY, AND STUDENTS STUDIED SPECIFIC SOUNDS AND WORDS. IN ADDITION, INTENSIVE INSTRUCTION WAS GIVEN IN TYPING, SHORTHAND, ENGLISH, SPELLING, AND PERSONAL GROOMING. IN 1966, THE PROGRAM ADDED COURSES IN READING, MATHEMATICS, AND FAMILY ECONOMICS. THE STUDENTS PAID NO TUITION AND ATTENDED CLASSES EVERYDAY FROM 9 TO 5. ONLY FOUR STUDENTS IN THE FIRST GROUP DROPPED OUT, AND 77 FOUND JOBS SOON AFTER GRADUATION. MOREOVER, MANY OF THE NEGRO WOMEN FOUND JOBS IN PREVIOUSLY ALL-WHITE COMPANIES. THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN "SOUTHERN EDUCATION REPORT," VOLUME 2, NUMBER 5, DECEMBER 1966. (DK)