Standardized testing

I know I have quite a while before my boys start school but when they do, they'll be subjected to standardized testing. Here in the sunny state of florida we have the FCAT, and the NRT. As more years pass getting an education becomes less about learning and more about preparing for the big test at the end of the year which determines whether or not your child will pass their current grade. They've now even added more sections. There's reading, writing, math, science, and a third reading section which I think is grammar. The NRT has multiple sections also and generally it takes up four school days not to mention countless hours of REAL education time to teach closed knowledge.

As a parent, this worries me. I don't want my kids to feel pressured to perform. Some people really are just not good at standardized testing. It's not fair to try to force them to perform in one uniformed way. When did our education system become part of the machine? I want my kids to get the best education possible not a watered down version of general knowledge. Why not expand minds? We are closing them. We are watching America's education scores drop. I honestly think it's because education no longer has multiple methods of coming. There is one, in Florida's case, it's FCAT textbooks.

When high schoolers apply for college they're told they need to take the SAT or the ACT in order to be eligable as a student. Before you join the military they have you take the ASVAB. These standardized tests are everywhere. Do you feel like it's getting out of control too? What would you suggest in it's place? Please, share your thoughts/opinions.