Several years ago, there was a television show that soared to high ratings. It had the provocative title, "Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader?"

It was hosted by an amiable redneck from Georgia, Jeff Foxworthy. We all tuned in because of course we were smarter than a 5^th grader!

Well, surprise.

The obnoxious little brats on the show routinely kicked our butts. Sigh.

Those thoughts resurfaced recently when the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued a report about the state of literacy and numeracy among its members.

Overall, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands and Norway led the rankings. Canada did OK—above the median scores, but certainly room for improvement. The United States, France and a host of other nations were below the average for literacy.

One can always pick nits about any survey or rankings. The distressing conclusion to this survey, however, was that adult literacy and numeracy skills are getting worse. The trend for most nations is down. That is the real concern for municipalities, because it is in our towns and cities that the impact is felt the most.

People need these basic skills to get good jobs in today's economy. The ability to function—to be able to read the instructions on a construction order form, to be able to keyboard, to understand basic math, and so on—is fundamental to succeeding in today's world.

When concerns about literacy and numeracy skills are raised, eyes invariably turn to the school system and our colleges and universities. There are concerns that schools are not sufficiently emphasizing the rules of grammar, the basics of mathematics, the literacy skills needed to propel graduates forward. There are growing questions about whether a bachelor's degree is worth much today.

Having a vibrant and educated workforce is a huge advantage for a municipality when it is trying to attract a new business or industry. That is one of the first things employers look for in deciding to move or expand a business. Communities that offer a commitment to lifelong learning, that have strong links to local schools and colleges, and that encourage residents to gain literacy and numeracy skills, have a decided economic advantage.

As immigration becomes a greater part of every Canadian city's growth, a particular focus on ESL and other literacy programs will be required.

These are investments in what I have named 'the human infrastructure' of a successful city. And as important as physical infrastructure is for the growth and development of a city, so is that of human infrastructure.

While the TV show is long gone, the question still lingers: Can you read better than a twelve-year-old?

We can do better.