Pencils. Why pencils? - Another question for Americans

[thismaz]

I was watching BtVS3:1 'Anne', the other day and there is a scene with Willow and Xander in the library, when Giles rushes off after another possible lead on Buffy's whereabouts. They are studying and both of them are holding pencils. These two are supposed to be in their final year of High School. They are 17 going on 18. Why don't they have pens? And it occurred to me, again, that I can't remember ever seeing any of the High School students use pens. It is always pencils.

So I'm asking if there is a reason for that. Anybody know?

Comments

[vikingwriter.livejournal.com]

My math teachers insisted, under pain of death and/or dismemberment, that we use pencil in case we made mistakes. That or they were underlining/margin-note-writing in their textbooks (which are school property and they usually charge you a fine if they come back marked up). Or they were simply left over from Willow's floating-pencil practices? ;)

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

My math teachers insisted that we use pencil in case we made mistakes Until you were 18? Wow. Wouldn't they want to see the mistakes you made, so they could follow your reasoning? I get about marking up library books - but Giles was right there! The floating pencil left-overs, I can see... But she never tried floating a pen - maybe it's easier with something made from organic matter, eh? ;-)
Thanks for coming back on this. I just wondered if there was a reason. It's these little things that catch my eye and make me curious. I'm sad that way. *g*