ABSTRACT
The article presents a synthesis of what has been the teaching of history and social sciences in Colombia from the government policies of the last decades. Based on the purposes stated in these policies, it is analyzed what occurs in two cases conformed by novice elementary school teachers who teach in public schools; what they think is related to what they do in practice, with regard to the purposes of teaching social sciences. The results show two experiences that coincide in the purposes that the teachers propose (critical) and differ in the purposes that are evidenced in their practices (one positivist and the other critical). The results raise questions about the meaning of the debates of government policies for the teaching of social sciences and what happens with the initial training of generalist teachers for science teaching. The debate should focus on the purposes of the teaching of history and social sciences, so that it fosters innovative and coherent educational practices.
Keywords:
Purposes of the teaching of history; Educational practices; Primary education; Novice teachers; Initial teacher training