Using data from a cross-sectional sample of 4,376 South Carolina high school seniors in 1969 to determine the differences in the perception of conditions relating to teacher choice among white and black females and males, the study explored the relative perceived importance of the following items in choosing a career: the chance to make a lot of money, the opportunity to help others, the chance to become an important person, steady employment, the opportunity to be one's own boss, and the chance for excitement. Student aspirations to the teaching profession, all professional positions except teaching, and all non-professional positions were compared and coded according to categories compatible with the Census Bureau's occupational classification system. Self-administered questionnaires were given to 1,510 white boys, 762 black boys, 1,464 white girls, and 762 black girls in 41 (27 primarily white and 14 primarily black) rural and urban high schools in 26 South Carolina counties. Some findings were that: the most important occupational desideratum for both black and white boys, regardless of career aspiration, was the opportunity for steady employment; money was a more desired job attribute for white boys than girls; black girls were concerned with the opportunity to make a lot of money and the chance to be an important person; the chance to help others ranked at or near the top of career desideratum for all seniors aspiring to teach; teaching attracted those groups who, for whatever reasons, had relatively limited professional level career possibilities. (NQ)