class MyClass: def __init__(self): self.__attr = 21 # set a name def process(self): print self.__attr * 2 # use the name: 42 class YourClass(MyClass): # customize process def __init__(self): MyClass.__init__(self) # construct super self.attr = 'spam' # set a name def process(self): print self.attr * 3 # use it: spamspamspam X = YourClass() X.process() # spamspamspam MyClass.process(X) # fixed--42