Kindergarten Pre-Op

Isn't it funny the way things change? Years ago, kindergarten was not even mandatory. This eventually changed. Then preschool became a more frequent choice. Now, if your child is not enrolled in preschool in utero, you're already behind. Kindergarten used to be the place you learn to read and write. In most schools today, you must be able to write your name and know and be able to write all of your letters, as well as some sight words before entering school. Today, for Nate's preparation to kindergarten he had to participate in a one hour "Kindergarten Evaluation" where he moved from station to station being graded on everything from gross motor to fine motor to speech, language, cognitive development, sight and hearing. The works. Each child entering the school system is scored and then they are placed in classrooms based on this placement. The school system is making sure there is not one classroom stacked with baby Einsteins, leaving another class, well, not stacked with baby Einsteins.
Although I agree in theory this is a good idea, it leaves me wondering what is happening to just being a kid? Is all this pressure, all of these regulations and expectations just a little overkill? I am proud to say I have taught all of my kids to write their names at a fairly early age, but it wasn't because I was afraid they wouldn't be accepted into kindergarten if they didn't. I taught them because they wanted to know. It mostly stemmed from writing their names on drawings, so they could show everyone it was their own masterpiece, or from teaching them to sign their name to birthday cards. Even Brody, my lovely two year old runs up to me when he is done with his latest creation and screeches "B, B, B, mama make B!" Because he knows his name begins with this letter. It seems like natural learning. It is not forced.
Nate did extremely well on his evaluation today, with exceptions in speech and language. The speech one I was prepared for, the language one, not so much. He apparently talked around some objects when describing them. Given another shot, I'm sure it would be a different outcome, but he will have to go back for yet another evaluation to explore these areas yet again.
(Mind you no evaluation result actually determines whether or not a child is accepted into kindergarten, it is just a way to mark their academic/physical levels prior to the start of the year.)