Twice a year, Mountaineers must fill out the Panorama survey in hopes of changing the district for the better. But most students claim that they lie on or abstain from doing the survey.
“Honestly, I don’t think the survey portrays people’s accurate feelings,” said senior Jacob Kaminski. “I think that even the teachers know that the students don’t care much about being honest.”
Senior Somer Stati said she told the truth on the survey, but that when students lie the faults are on the students’ shortcomings, not the actual survey.
“I believe that the majority [of students] lie because they are lazy,” said Stati. “They don’t think it [the survey] affects the school.”
Junior Maya Panagakis, on the other hand, said that the survey itself doesn’t resonate with the students. The questions and survey can seem redundant.
“I don’t like how it asks the questions,” said Panagakis. “They [the staff] need to redo the entire structure.”
Senior Ellie Curran said that the survey happens too frequently.
“I understand why it’s important,” said Curran. “But why do we have to take it every year?”
Junior Sophia Goulsh claims that doing the same survey for years on end makes it feel unimportant and repetitive.
“I’ve been taking the same survey two times a year since fifth grade,” said Goulsh. “No matter what, people don’t want to do it.”
Senior Kyle McMahon agreed that the survey is not worth the effort, especially since it takes up an activity period.
“I feel like it’s a waste of time,” said McMahon. “To me the questions are pointless.”
On the opposite side of this debate, School Counseling Director Kendra Cantrell shed some light on the survey from the staff’s perspective.
“We want the students to understand that the culture of comfort is important,” said Cantrell. “We want them to feel safe.”
What most students do agree on is even with the survey, they find little change around the school.
Panagakis agreed, saying that overall nothing changes.
“I see no changes ever,” said Panagakis. “In the grand scheme of things, there are no changes.”
Teacher Jason Hilton says that changes shouldn’t be made at all if the students are not being forthcoming with the survey.
“There is some concern over using results as if they are completely accurate,” said Hilton. “It’s bad policy to make major changes when you aren’t sure of the validity of the results.”
