WASL and Standardized Tests

This week, in Washington began a new round of WASL (assessment of student learning), at test that all public school students must pass in order to graduation high school. This, of course, is a big issue as academic rigor varies from classroom to classroom and school to school despite identical standards issued by the state of Washington. Many feel as though it is unfair to judge students' academic achivement based on a test containing a wide variety of questions. It is true such tests do not acurately portray what a kid does and does not know. It is also true that there are other ways to assess student knowledge. However these are not, in my mind, the parts of the state mandated test that worry me the most.
Problem one is that so many teacher fret about this test and think they need to "get kids ready for" it. They lose sight of why they are teaching and think that test preparation is the only thing that needs to be done throughout the year. They begin to neglect individual student needs both socially and academically. Teachers also neglect the real-life applications of various subject areas by isolating skills. This both aids in a child's loss of interest in a subject and does not touch on why one would use such a skill.
My second issue with such tests is the money spent on assessing. The cost of paper, shipping, test creation and scoring as well as cost to schools for hiring additional test proctors. This is not to say that the money needs to be spent on my school, but surely this could contribute to teacher raises or, more importantly, teacher development; which is the best way to ensure that children will learn.
Such tests are not all that bad for children, especially as the kids reach and go in to their teenage years. Exams are used for kids in England and determine the path a student can take for the remainder of their school days. Assessments are used by nations around the world, nations that are competing with our citizens for college entrance and jobs in a world economy.
Something that has lead to the issue of a state mandated standardized test is accountability. It is often difficult to find teachers and administrative staff that are held accountable for their teaching and learning. It is important for districts to hire the best teachers and fire those who are not performing to local standards. This means having school and district goals for improvement. Teachers should be able to document how students are improving while achieving their own learning goals for professional development. This takes good leaders as well. Leaders that are willing to trust their teachers while commanding that educators give nothing but their best.
If our teachers were as good as they thought they were, they would embrace the WASL instead of complaining about it and hoping it goes away. And as they complain the rest of the world is striving to give students the best education, make 100% literacy rates and beat the economic powerhouse that is the USA in an area that should leave all other nations in the dust.
We are teachers. Society depends on us to give nothing but our best. We should demand that we give the most of ourselves rather than expect everybody else to give to us. Teacher need to understand that is an honor and a responsibility to teach not a right.