The objective of this study of teachers located in the Northwestern United States was to examine their reasons for considering leaving the teaching ranks. The research analyzed teacher perceptions in order to achieve a clearer understanding of the realities of the work place and how they affect a teacher's decision to leave. The findings reported here resulted from the spring 1995 administration of a teacher attitude survey instrument to a random selection of 212 teachers, K-12, throughout Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. The study found that 44 percent of the teachers occasionally considered leaving the profession. Reasons cited included student discipline, students' lack of motivation, and poor attitudes; emotional factors such as lack of fulfillment, boredom with the daily routine, stress, and frustration; lack of respect from community, parents, administrators, and/or students; difficult working conditions; and low salaries. Also, 49 percent of the population surveyed identified the professional prestige to be as they had expected it or better. Findings of this study were not unlike those from surveys conducted in 11 other states throughout the South, Southeast, and Midwest between 1991 and 1994. (Contains 5 tables and 16 references.) (JB)