Federal File

Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley is making his voice heard on a raging issue in his home state: He wants the Confederate battle flag removed from the dome of the South Carolina state Capitol.

South Carolina's practice of flying the symbol of the Confederacy beneath the U.S. and state flags has sparked a bitter debate between those who say the banner connotes racism and others who argue that it honors the South's heritage.

Mr. Riley, the governor of South Carolina from 1979 to 1986, has offered his opinion on the issue to educators...