Discrimination and intolerance among high school students. Obstacles in Universal Design for Learning (DUA)

Abstract

One of the fundamental challenges of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is the inclusive approach that aims to celebrate differences and respond to the particular needs of students; However, practices of intolerance among peers hinder inclusion from favoring the integrative education approach. The objective of this article is to analyze intolerance practices among secondary education students. The methodology used in the research was mixed and descriptive, divided into two stages; In the first, an instrument was designed and applied in 200 secondary schools, to find out the causes of intolerance among students. In the second stage, based on the results, the analysis category Discrimination and intolerance of cultural differences in the classroom was constructed, which describes the reality around the inclusion provided by the educational system in Mexico. The results showed that cultural diversity and physical differences are not accepted among students and become a source of violence. The situation of high school students in the State of Mexico is an example of contextualized research to expand knowledge about the DUA model, as well as future research for its application.