Before teacher accountability, many teachers taught whatever they wanted. It is good to have a passion and to teach about things of which you are truly knowledgeable. However, when a student has the same dinosaur unit every year for 3 years and never learns about the solar system, for example, something is wrong.
I think the standards have given us a solid way to make sure students have a more rounded education. The testing also makes sure that teachers are making sure they're teaching and holding students accountable, not just taking the easy way out and giving everyone a passing grade.
On the other hand, tests with this much importance are stressful. They make everyone fearful, from teacher to students. Teachers whose students do not do well often refuse to look at good teaching methods as being the cause. And instead, they begin to "drill and kill" the test.
There needs to be a happy medium, however, time and time again, when standards are relaxed so are expectations of teachers and administrators.