RETIREMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS - Fair Values of the Material U.S. and Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
U.S. and Non-U.S. Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	$ 26,541	$ 27,130	$ 24,643
UNITED STATES | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	231,170
UNITED STATES | Level 2 | U.S. Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	130,245
UNITED STATES | Level 2 | U.S. Government State And Local Debt Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	59,743
Non-US
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	1,154,128
Non-US | Mutual fund equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	347,781
Non-US | Non-U.S. government debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	105,331
Non-US | Mutual fund debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	563,699
Non-US | Cash and short-term investments
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	25,131
Non-US | Insurance contracts
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	69,754
Non-US | Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	42,432
Non-US | Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	124,496
Non-US | Level 1 | Mutual fund equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 1 | Non-U.S. government debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	105,331
Non-US | Level 1 | Mutual fund debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	3,093
Non-US | Level 1 | Cash and short-term investments
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	16,072
Non-US | Level 1 | Insurance contracts
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 1 | Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	1,029,632
Non-US | Level 2 | Mutual fund equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	347,781
Non-US | Level 2 | Non-U.S. government debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 2 | Mutual fund debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	560,606
Non-US | Level 2 | Cash and short-term investments
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	9,059
Non-US | Level 2 | Insurance contracts
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	69,754
Non-US | Level 2 | Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	42,432
Non-US | Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 3 | Mutual fund equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 3 | Non-U.S. government debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 3 | Mutual fund debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 3 | Cash and short-term investments
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 3 | Insurance contracts
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	0
Non-US | Level 3 | Other
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan assets	$ 0