How does teaching to the test make teeaching/learning more difficult?

Because of the PSSA's being a requirement in school:

1. Teachers have to teach to the PSSA test even if they think the material is unimportant or not worth teaching.

2. Students learn information based only on the test

3. Months of time are spent on teaching the PSSA

4. Students have a difficult time making outside connections to the information they learned (except for the connection to the test)

5. Students feel extreme pressure on test days

6. Teachers are overwhelmed with what they have to teach the students and how to best prepare students for the test

7. Students miss out on some valuable knowledge and the opportunity to read quality literature because they are spending their time on test preparation.

What do you think the benefits to teaching to the test are?

Are their benefits?

Do you think the PSSA's are a good representation of student knowledge?