I’m guessing this isn’t going to be one of my most popular blog titles.

While many people may think I am crazy, I really think a bad economy can be a positive thing for schools.

How is this possible? Innovation comes during difficult times. There is really no point to be innovative when things are going well.

In the months and maybe even the years ahead (this recession may never end), school districts will need to be innovative to survive. (I refuse to use the phrase “think outside the box” and anyone who does should be sent to an island to live out the rest of their sad and pathetic life.)

As educators we have an unending thirst for money (much like a junior high boy at lunch — never happy with the portions). We want the local community to give us more. We want the state to give us more. We want the federal government to gives us more. More, more, more.

While I will be the first one in line to say schools could use more money, I wonder how much is enough? It is not vastly different than elementary teachers who horde construction paper (don’t deny it, you know you do). Is there a magic amount that would satisfy us? I wish there were, but I doubt it exists.

As educators we can be hard to satisfy (don’t deny this either). It’s like third graders with a 15-minute recess. They always say the time goes too fast. I think they would say the same thing if recess was four hours long. If the government tripled the money they gave us, I have a feeling we would still want 5 percent more (and I am being gracious because it would be way more than 5 percent).

There is no doubt that money helps in education, but I don’t think it’s everything. If you gave me the choice of more money or to be surrounded by people who were innovative, I would take the people.

The challenge is innovation isn’t easy. If it was, everybody would be coming up with new and unique ideas to help students. In every aspect of life, the most successful people are those who are good at Plan B. And that is what schools are going to need in this economy — a good plan B and, possibly, a Plan C and D (notice, I didn’t go with Plan F because that is never a good idea in school).

I am willing to bet by the time the economy picks up, schools will have also improved. And while less money doesn’t make schools happy, it may just make us better.

 To read more blog entries by Michael Smith, visit his site PrincipalsPage.com.