C++ - Initializing a Member variable inside a member function?
<p>This seems like bad coding practice, but it was the guidelines given to me. I want to preface by saying I have no idea how this will actually be implemented in the main, Im just writing the class.</p>

<pre><code>class Example
{
  private:
     static int total;
  public:
    void initalizeTotal();
}

Example::initalizeTotal()
{
   total = 0;
}
</code></pre>

<p>total will (I guess) be used to count the number of objects of that class.
This is basically what I'm getting at. The problem is how I figure out how to actually call the function. 
I can't just call it in the constructor, sense that would reset total each time. 
And I've tried and failed "check" if the variable has a value yet and if not, call the function.</p>

<p>Is there any advice anyone can give?</p>

<p>EDIT: 
I forgot to include that total is static. And that i MUST have a function that initializes total. Thats a requirement of the assignment.</p>
