standardization

Standardized testing i believe is a priority that is out of whack with what should be the goal of education, teaching children to be abale to survive and prosper in the real world. Too often these tests place high emphasis on areas of curriculm that are useless and are impossible to gauge true knowledge. They do not take into consideration the many regionally and cultural differences of our students across the country. By placing a high emphasis on these tests I think we are missing the point. Math proficiency and reading levels to not help create a person that can help contribute in the real world. There are not job openings all over for people who can do algebra and win spelling bees. The social sciences are being ignored and many programs that promote creative thinking such as music and art are taking a backseat due to standardized testing pressures. The study of the socail sciences helps to teach children citizenship, how to realate to others and their cultures, how to contribute to society through politics and the economy. By placing this arena of critical thinking behind what can be easily "measured" we are failing every student who has to pass through the system. The arts are soemthing where your creativity is allowed to grow as well, I don't know about everyone but I use what I learned in my art education almost everyday of my life, it has helped me be able to problem solve and create wonderful things. When was the last time we all saw an emphasis placed on this in the average MPS school? The ones that I have been to where shamefully inadeqaute in the teachings of the arts as well as the social sciences. To what goal? A better test score? This is why the current system is broken behind all comprehension. Why do we need a standardized test? I broach this question to you all. Are they necessary seeing as they do often not really gauge your true knowledge? Not to mention the fact that one test decides how smart you are. I understand it is defininetly a huge money making system and that politically it looks good but really why shoudl we keep it? What should we do to fix it? or what should replace it?