Dear Annie: Should a little boy have an American Girl doll? My five-year-old son talks about nothing else since his older sister got one for Christmas. His sixth birthday is coming up, and he says all he wants is that doll. He loves to play with the Barbie that his older sister gave him.

We have not objected, since it seems harmless, but other boys his age are leaving the dolls behind and growing out of the girly stuff. “Danny” also likes to play with girls, even though we have tried to get him to play with boys. The boys are usually too rough for him, and often, Danny is picked on.

My husband is OK with the dolls, since he played with dolls when he was a child. My husband is not the most “manly” kind of guy, as he is not into sports and stuff like that, but he’s great with the kids and helping around the house.

So, should we buy Danny his American Girl doll? — Sissy’s Mom

Dear Mom: We often imbue toys with more characteristics than they deserve. Danny’s sexual orientation is not going to change because he is a gentle soul whose older sister is one of his role models. If he preferred playing with building blocks or modelling clay, you wouldn’t think twice. For most people, the biggest obstacle to buying this doll is the price tag. If that’s no problem, pretend it’s a historical action figure. Bet?

Dear Annie: This is really not terribly important, but when you attend an event where you are given a name tag, do you put it on your left or right side?

I’ve always slapped it on my left lapel and not given it a thought. However, at a recent event, I heard an Emily Post clone tell a woman, “You always put the tag on your right shoulder so the person you’re introduced to can see your name when you shake hands.” I’ve never heard this before. Is she correct? — Waterbury, Connecticut.

Dear Waterbury: Actually, yes. When shaking hands, most people turn slightly to the left, making it more natural to glance unobtrusively at the name tag on your right shoulder as they move to focus on your e.

Dear Annie: This is in response to “Racism Kills the Soul,” the young woman who doesn’t want to go to school because she receives racial slurs and threats.

Many adults find it difficult to talk about racism and harassment, but the silence of educators is never excusable. It is their job to protect her. When teachers and administrators do not act to stop racial harassment, they neglect their responsibility to make sure their students are safe.

Our organisation works in schools to address bias, and we focus on two things. First, we provide training and support for teachers and administrators in developing a deeper understanding of the dynamics of harassment and the deep, hurtful impact on targeted students. We also provide practical skills and strategies to prevent biased language and behaviour.

Second, and in our view most importantly, our workshops empower students to speak out against intolerance. Even in a school where every adult is focused and proactive on these issues, we know that a significant amount of harassment occurs where adults cannot see or hear it.

I hope that her school will contact one of many national organisations that specialise in racism and other types of bias in schools. Any one of them can offer resources that assist young people and adults to promote respect in their environment. — Taina Mirach-Jack, Trainer, and Stephen Wessler, Executive Director, Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence (www.preventinghate.org)

Dear Taina Mirach-Jack and Stephen Wessler: Thank you for providing this excellent resource. We also heard from Penny Weaver at the Southern Poverty Law Center, who recommended several handbooks on bullying available through www.tolerance.org. We hope all schools will avail themselves of these materials.