INCOME TAX (Reconciliation of Federal Statutory Rate to Effective Tax Rate from Continuing Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Reconciliation Of Statutory Federal Tax Rate [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit) at statutory rate of 35%	$ 50,684	$ 46,528	$ 57,675
State and local taxes	88	3,460	4,596
Section 199 manufacturing deduction	(1,199)	0	0
Foreign rate differential	(5,940)	(3,295)	(9,909)
Change in valuation allowance	22,079	14,264	10,033
Deferred compensation	(4,164)	(2,890)	(1,094)
Nontaxable foreign interest	(16,506)	(5,445)	0
Disposition of foreign subsidiaries	0	6,292	(102,104)
Australian reorganization	0	(7,245)	0
Research and experimentation tax credits	0	0	(11,500)
Other	(2,318)	6,310	6,541
Income tax expense (benefit) on continuing operations	$ 42,724	$ 57,979	$ (45,762)
Effective income tax rates from continuing operations	29.50%	43.60%	(27.80%)