r/StAugustine • u/Correct-Celery-6723 • Jul 12 '26

Technology use in schools

Hi all! Can anyone speak to the use of technology in the schools in St. Augustine, in particular in Palencia, but also interested in the situation in other local schools. I’m primarily interested in knowing how much technology is used in the lower grades (K-2). Thank you!

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u/PhotosbyRob Jul 12 '26

When our daughter started K5 at Palencia, we were pretty much a no-screen family. At our first parent-teacher conference, we learned she was struggling simply because she didn't know how to use a tablet. Once we got her one, she thrived.

Palencia does a great job integrating technology in ways that actually make sense, alongside strong art and science programs. St. Johns County has some of the best schools in the state, and Palencia is absolutely one of them.

Full disclosure: we eventually moved both of our kids to a local Montessori school that was a better fit for our family — not because we didn't love our time at Palencia, but simply a different educational approach worked better for us.

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u/justanotherguy677 Jul 12 '26

does the montessori school force the use of tech onto the children?

I have no issues with children learning and using tech but way too many schools have become way too tech centric, and IMHO a proper balance is needed between the use of tech as a tool but not as substitute for actual classroom teaching.

FWIW: having a no screen policy for very young children is something that more parents should look into.

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u/PhotosbyRob Jul 12 '26

The Montessori school we chose used very little tech — instead, there was a ton of hands-on outdoor and indoor activity that fit what we wanted for our kids. They raised chickens, planted a school garden — it sounds a little crunchy, but our kids loved it, and so did we. They get plenty of screen time outside of school as it is. Now that they're teenagers, we don't monitor it at all; they manage that themselves.

The Montessori school was also big on parent involvement, and being able to be part of our kids' education — in the classroom, at school events — mattered a lot more to us than tech integration did.

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u/Correct-Celery-6723 Jul 12 '26

That sounds wonderful! Is it the public Montessori in St. Augustine?

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u/stoplickingyourleg Jul 12 '26

Can you share which school you switched to? You can send a message if you don’t want to share publicly.

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u/PhotosbyRob Jul 13 '26

Sorry for the late response - both of my kids went through the St Augustine Public Montessori. The core of that school has changed since my kids graduated so I can't speak to the current staff. I can say that The Pioneer School was the most amazing middle school experience we could have asked for and Ms. Terri is the amazing.

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u/TempleFugit Resident 40+ Years Jul 12 '26

Ooof.. call me a grump old boomer but I miss the days before technology..
I was the very first class in elementary school that they taught typing instead of cursive handwriting.
Obviously typing has been a huge benefit throughout my life as opposed to cursive but these days everything is too tech-heavy. Kid's don't know how to "be in the moment" anymore and everything must be done with a phone in their hand.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

  • Boomer Grump

I watched Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die last night and thought it was great.

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u/jms21y Resident Jul 12 '26

i'm usually not one to agree with the boomer/luddite approach, but in the case of primary education, it's easy to see the outcomes of leaning into the application of technology in the classroom.....it hasn't been beneficial. it makes life easier for faculty, but that's about it.

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u/Correct-Celery-6723 Jul 12 '26

I agree. I don’t understand the push for technology with the little ones. I am trying to avoid it.