>> Would
>>
>> kindergarden ||= 0
>>
>> do what you're looking for?
>
> if you're using the subject as his question, yes, but if you're using
> his example (below), no.  (i.e. consider the case if kindergarden is
> -1.)

You're right.

I tried the following:


irb(main):012:0> kindergarden<0 ||=0
SyntaxError: compile error
(irb):12: syntax error
kindergarden<0 ||=0
                  ^
   from (irb):12