ruby_private_access.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby

class Parent
  private
  def name
    'Mommy'
  end
end

class Child < Parent
  def get_parent_name
    puts name                                           # Implicit receiver
    puts self.name rescue puts 'NoMethodError'          # Explicit receiver
    puts Parent.new.name rescue puts 'NoMethodError'    # Explicit receiver
  end
end

Child.new.get_parent_name
# => Mommy
# => NoMethodError
# => NoMethodError