dr. michael goodwin at the children's hospital calls it one of the society's biggest epidemics. >> most teenagers are not ready in the brains to fall asleep until 12 at night. >> reporter: he sides with the american academy of pediatrics saying lack of sleep leads to depression in teens and increase in car accidents so the extra hour in the morning is critical. >> aspects of learning and menial health, well being, and even as we said just moments ago, obesity management. you know, sleep is fundamental to everything we do. >> it's for parents who work, have to be at work a certain time. what do you do when you leave your child for that hour? >> reporter: and turn out here is light, fewer than a dozen people inside right now, but tonight's hearing goes until 7:00. also, i did speak with the new jersey department of education rep inside who did tell me they are getting hundreds of responses from parents and families by e-mail. live in blackwood, nbc 10 news. >>> your first alert weather with glen "hurricane" schwartz. >> we had a lot of hours of rain late last week, and yesterday, but it did not amo