The pressure to get the kids to pass standardized tests is enormous. I think there is a place for these tests, but too much emphasis is being placed on them.
My biggest fear with public schools is the government treating kids as a target audience that can be sold to big businesses.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...27/lo_vv/53014
Children today are bombarded with millions of commercials as it is. School should be free of this pressure to become happy little consumers.