Murphy listened with interest to the school headmaster. The man told of his plans for introduction of inclusive education strategies into his school. Many considered Murphy something of an expert on the subject. Murphy didn’t like that label. He had been lucky enough to work with many so-called disadvantaged people. It was just that he could understand them. Understand their needs. That was all.

He had been to many such meetings. Some, he recognised as a grab for money. Others, he did not see the commitment to the marginalised. Often, the desire to appear to be doing something good was greater than the capability of doing it. Murphy thought this was true with most school managers, or administrators, or whatever they called themselves. Why couldn’t they just be satisfied with the title of headmaster?

Murphy thought back to a story he had heard many years ago. It was a story that had inspired him to leave the comforts of city life, and travel to the outback of Australia. Later, it took him to villages in the East and South East of Asia. The story had convinced him that the marginalised in society often had great potential to change the world, but little or no opportunity to do so. He recounted the story in his head, the story of The Commoner and the Nobleman:

Once, there was a commoner, out gathering wood to keep his family warm. He came across a nobleman, up to his neck in a mud quire, and still sinking. The commoner threw him a rope, and had his donkey pull the nobleman out of the mud.

The nobleman was so happy that he told the commoner “I will give you half of all my wealth, for without you, I would now be dead.” The commoner told him there was no need. He was happy just to have saved his lord, and hoped his lordship would continue being the kind, generous leader that he had always been, for many, many years to come.

The nobleman, moved by this, said to the commoner “I know that you have a son, who you love very much. I would like to send your son to the finest schools, and give him the best education in all England.” The commoner agreed to this, knowing it would give his son a chance at a better life than he, himself, could give. Everybody was happy.