Acquisitions (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	$ 5.3	$ 9.2
Learners Publishing [Member]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	2.8
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount	1.3
Weekly Reader [Member]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	2.0
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount	6.5
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Liabilities Assumed	$ 4.5

Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 52

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 53

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant