my textbooks are being returned

Scenario:

When the last day of school came, Bart hoped to get 'C' in his grades, of course, he was aware that he would flunk as usual. So he desperately buttered up his teacher, Mrs Karbappel.

Bart: Mrs. Krabappel, in figuring out my final grades... I hope you'll note that all Of my textbooks are being returned in excellent condition in some cases, still in their original wrappings.

Mrs Karbappel: Duly noted.

Bart: I'd also like to add, as I gaze upon your beauty...I've never seen an angel fly so low.

Mrs Karbappel:Forget it, short pants.

Bart: Mrs. Krabappel, if I don't get at least a "C" average...I can't go to Kamp Krusty!

Mrs Karbappel: Have a "D"-lightful summer!

Questions:

Q1: What does 'return' mean here? I assume it refers to keep the textbooks in good condition. Or does it mean students should return textbooks to the school?

Q2: Why did the teacher call Bart short pants? Is it slang?

Thanks!

In public schools in the US, textbooks are provided free of charge to the students, but they must return them at the end of each school year. It's something of a "last day of school" ritual for everyone to turn in their textbooks (or pay for them if they've lost them or damaged them). In this case, Bart was trying to score "extra points" with his teacher by turning in his books in pristine condition. Of course, if he had been doing his school work properly all year, the book wouldn't look "new" or be in its original wrapper. The implication is that Bart never used his textbooks.

"Short pants" was just a slang nickname the teacher came up with on the spot because Bart always wears those shorts. She was sort of insulting him because he had given her that outrageous and obviously insincere compliment (comparing her to an angel) in an effort to get better grades.

Hi Ouisch,

Thank you for your illustration. :-D

Chinese students never have such a ritual of returning textbooks, though most of them attend public schools. Glad to learn this. :-D