Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	May 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	May 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Revenues	$ 691,904,000	$ 637,787,000	$ 626,147,000	$ 587,745,000	$ 656,586,000	$ 710,295,000	$ 662,210,000	$ 592,820,000	$ 2,543,583,000	$ 2,621,911,000	$ 3,340,938,000
Operating income (loss)	15,728,000	1,629,000	6,584,000	(3,625,000)	(347,579,000)	7,187,000	11,390,000	1,213,000	20,316,000	(327,789,000)	53,668,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	857,000	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to SSI	7,253,000	3,110,000	1,789,000	(6,228,000)	(289,234,000)	820,000	8,643,000	(1,671,000)	5,924,000	(281,442,000)	27,404,000
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to SSI	$ 0.27	$ 0.12	$ 0.07	$ (0.23)	$ (10.82)	$ 0.03	$ 0.32	$ (0.06)	$ 0.22	$ (10.56)	$ 1.00
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to SSI	$ 0.27	$ 0.12	$ 0.07	$ (0.23)	$ (10.82)	$ 0.03	$ 0.32	$ (0.06)	$ 0.22	$ (10.56)	$ 0.99
Goodwill impairment charge					321,000,000				0	321,000,000	0
Other asset impairment charges					13,000,000				1,460,000	13,053,000	0
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount					29,000,000				2,000,000	29,000,000
Restructuring charges					$ 3,000,000				$ 6,401,000	$ 7,906,000	$ 5,012,000