I have to admit it took me a while to find something I wanted to photograph. I thought of various logos and words but nothing seemed to fit. Then finally, my eyes landed on the iconic #2 pencil. How many tests and scantron sheets have we all filled out using the #2 pencil? What is it about the #2 pencil that makes it the champion of all assessments? Is it really better than the #1.5 or #2.5? And seriously, do they even make different numbered pencils? When these grading machines were made, why was #2 the lead (actually graphite) chosen?
As a teacher who has to proctor those oh-so-important-but-not-really state assessments, I can attest to the fact that not all pencils are #2, Furthermore most of the decorated, cutesy pencils have no numbers on them at all. I now wonder if this is some sort of conspiracy to alter the test results.
Teachers and students of the world - grab your #2s and let's go!
