What do you think about standerdized testing for students?

In my state they have something called the TAKS test. It is a big deal, 50 questions for 3 parts, and you have to write a 2 page composition to a quote. The only problem with that is teachers have to spend all of their teaching time, teaching how to p the TAKS, not what might be the most important thing to learn. Teachers are so afraid they'll get in trouble if not enough of their students p, they only concentrate on TAKS material. Do you think this is fair to the students?