read_attribute is public [ci skip]

activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods.rb

@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ def column_for_attribute(name)
 
     # Returns the value of the attribute identified by <tt>attr_name</tt> after it has been typecast (for example,
     # "2004-12-12" in a data column is cast to a date object, like Date.new(2004, 12, 12)).
-    # (Alias for the protected <tt>read_attribute</tt> method).
+    # (Alias for <tt>read_attribute</tt>).
     #
     #   class Person < ActiveRecord::Base
     #   end